Health Benefits of Apricots
Apricots are incredibly high in minerals and rich in beta carotene and are one of the most healing fruits you can eat. They are one of the best sources for organic iron, copper, and cobalt making them very beneficial for anemia, digestive disorders, and reproductive health.
Apricots
are highly beneficial for autoimmune disorders such as chronic fatigue
syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, lupus, colitis, IBS, and
PCOS. They are also wonderful for keeping the heart strong and healthy as well
as being a powerful weight-loss agent.
Apricot’s
high concentration of beta carotene makes them an excellent food for disease
prevention, especially lung, skin, and stomach illnesses. And they are very
helpful in helping to regrow hair and improve the quality of your hair, skin,
and nails.
Fresh
apricots are always best, but when they are not available, dried apricots are a
great alternative. Look for wild and/or organic varieties that do not have any
preservatives such as sulfur dioxide.
By: Dr Chigora
Health Benefits of Apricots fruits
1. GOOD FOR YOUR EYES
Consuming
two or three servings of apricots in a day has proved to be beneficial in
preventing age-related Macular Degeneration.
Macular
degeneration is a disorder of the eye and is one of the major causes of loss of
sight in older people. It also helps in strengthening the optic nerves in your
eyes.
It also
lowers the risk of another major eye-related illness called Neovascular ARMD.
The carotenoids and the various vitamins especially Vitamin A and Beta Carotene
present in apricots are responsible for reducing the risk of developing this
disorder.
The
carotenoids and the various vitamins especially Vitamin A and Beta Carotene
present in apricots are responsible for reducing the risk of developing this
disorder.
Vitamin
A with Carotene and Lutein prolongs vision in people suffering from retinitis
pigmentosa and delays the loss of peripheral vision.
It is
also considered an excellent remedy for alleviating dry eyes symptoms. In younger
people it has been found to slow the progression of Stargardt’s disease- an
inherited eye disease.
WRAP UP:
Vitamin A and Beta Carotene in Apricots strengthens optic nerves of eyes and
protect from macular degeneration and other eye diseases that result in
complete or partial loss of vision.
2. RICH ANTIOXIDANTS IN APRICOT
Apricot,
when ripened naturally, is a rich source of antioxidants.
Antioxidants
are required by the body to aid the body’s natural functioning. Higher the
amount of antioxidants in the body, higher is the rate of elimination of toxins
from it.
Toxins
are harmful substances that accumulate in the intestines and the digestive
tract. Antioxidants also get rid of free radicals produced naturally in the
body on exposure to oxygen.
Free radicals
if not scavenged regularly, can damage the body on a cellular level. Apricots have the capacity to increase the
production of antioxidants.
They are
also rich in carotenoids and other strong antioxidant phytonutrients. Apricots
are rich in vitamin A content due to the presence of high levels of
beta-carotene in them which is a precursor of Vitamin A.
Vitamin
A is a strong antioxidant. Its presence is useful for the growth of cells in
the body and helps in improving the immune system.
By
optimizing the immune function, it leads to an overall improvement in the
health of the human body.
WRAP UP:
Apricot are rich in antioxidants and help in eliminating free radicals and
toxins thereby strengthening the immune function.
3. FIBER ARE HEALTH BOOSTER
Dried
and fresh apricot is one of the best sources of dietary fiber. Though fiber is
good for the human body, apricots contain a special kind of fiber that is, even
more, beneficial.
Rich
soluble fiber that dissolves quickly in the body; this helps in absorbing
essential nutrients. It melts into a gel-like substance and helps in breaking
down fatty acids.
Once
fatty acids are broken down, they help in the excretion of digested food
particles and the easy bowel movement.
The high
amount of dietary fiber also helps in keeping you safe from gastrointestinal
disorders. It ensures a regular emptying out of intestines and protects from
constipation and constipation induced piles.
WRAP UP:
Apricots have a high amount of soluble fiber which aids digestion function and
protects from constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders.
4. HEART HEALTH
The high
amount of soluble fibers is also beneficial to the heart health.
HOW ARE THE TWO RELATED?
The high
fiber content is useful in reducing the LDL cholesterol content in the body,
thus lowering your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
At the
same time, it also helps you increase the levels of HDL cholesterol.
Consuming
just half a cup of apricots every day is useful and beneficial to the health of
your heart.
Potassium
in Apricots further balances the electrolyte and ensures that the muscles of
your heart work to the best of their ability and remain healthy.
The
antioxidants stunt the age-related heart diseases and weaknesses.
WRAP UP:
The antioxidants, potassium and fiber in Apricots optimize the health of entire
cardiovascular system including heart.
5. POTASSIUM FOR A HEALTHY YOU
Fruits
like apricots and those belonging to the same family are high in potassium
content.
Optimum
levels of potassium are extremely beneficial to your body.
When
potassium combines with sodium or salt, it regulates the water levels within
and between cells. This water or fluid is called electrolyte and is responsible
for carrying neuro-transmissions.
Potassium
is also required to keep the blood pressure levels stable.
Deficiency
of potassium is known to be deterrent to the body as it increases the
possibility of developing hypertension.
Hypertension,
in its most severe forms, can lead to the possibility of heart attacks.
Eating
half a cup of apricots is enough to give you a whopping 21% of your required
potassium intake every day.
WRAP UP:
Potassium in Apricots maintains electrolyte balance, optimizes the blood
pressure and reduces the chances of hypertension led stroke.
6. NON-HEME IRON
All the
plant items that contain iron include the type that is called Non-heme iron.
Most of the dry fruits contain this type of iron.
The
specialty of this iron is that the body does not readily absorb it. This way
the amount of unabsorbed iron stays for a longer period in the body and is more
efficient when absorbed slowly.
For
better absorption, however, one can consume this with any other sources of
Vitamin C.
The iron
content in apricots is helpful in preventing you from developing anemia.
Anemia
is a common blood-related condition wherein blood contains a lower level of Red
Blood Corpuscles and hence, a lower level of hemoglobin content in the body.
It is
often characterized by dizziness, weakness, fatigue, nausea and inability to
carry out day to day activities due to persistent tiredness.
According
to the World Health Organization, it is one of the most severe forms of
nutritional disorders in the whole world.
Young
girls and especially the women are more prone to developing anemia than men
because they lose blood every month during menstruation.
Loss of
blood also indicates loss of iron content and nutrients.
WRAP UP:
Apricot contains non-heme iron which gets absorbed slowly, gradually and much
more effectively thus protecting from Anemia.
7. APRICOT FOR CANCER
Free
radicals in the body are harmful and attack the DNA structure at cellular level
causing abnormal growth of cells.
Free
radicals inhibit the natural course of cell growth and in long term invade the
healthy cells and destroy them as well.
The
production of free radicals is a direct result of some molecules’ reaction with
oxygen. Antioxidants are essentially body cleansing compounds that control
these free radicals.
The rich
levels of antioxidants in apricots are helpful in lowering your risk of
developing cancer. In fact apricot kernels better known as its seeds have been
found to kill cancerous growths without apparent side effects.
Antioxidants
in the body keep it clean from free radicals. It thus saves the body from many
different types of cancers, including cancers of the lungs, esophagus, and the
larynx.
WRAP UP:
Rich content of antioxidants in apricots lend it cancer inhibiting properties
that controls and prevents the growth of cancerous cells in the body.
8. SKIN BENEFITS WITH APRICOT
The high
level of antioxidants like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and phytonutrients in apricots
are highly recommended for maintaining skin health.
The
antioxidants in apricots slow down the process of aging by facilitating faster
cell production that replaces the layer of dead and worn out cells.
It
renews the skin layers and removes the fine wrinkles giving your skin a taut
appearance.
Vitamin
A also ensures that the skin is free from acne and other such general skin
problems.
WRAP UP:
The antioxidants in apricot make skin youthful, healthy and delay the
appearance of ageing on face.
9. HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT
The high
amount of dietary fiber that the apricot fruit is gifted with is useful for
those people who are looking at losing a few kilos.
High
fiber content improves the digestive and excretory systems in the body and
helps improve the rate of metabolism.
To add
fantastic character, apricot also contains an extremely small amount of
calories.
Apricots
can restore the electrolyte balance and fill your stomach without adding the
calories that eventually build up the weight of the body.
WRAP UP:
Fiber, low calories and mineral content of apricot make them an ideal for
people on strict diet and facilitates the weight loss as well.
10. STRENGTHENS YOUR BONES
Apricots
are rich in calcium and potassium content. The body requires calcium in bone
formation and bone development.
Lack of
calcium leads to a disorder of the bones called Osteoporosis. The high calcium
content is thus useful in the keeping of bone health and saves you from brittle
bones.
However,
one essential mineral that regulates the absorption, distribution and excretion
of calcium in our body is Potassium.
Without
potassium, all calcium that you consume and calcium contained in the bones
would be released in blood stream eventually getting evicted from the body. It
will not only affect the bone health but will also choke the bladder that
purifies the blood.
WRAP UP:
Apricots maintain strong and healthy bones owing to their calcium and potassium
content.
11. ELECTROLYTE CONTENT
Proper
functioning of the cells requires a good balance of the electrolyte levels in
the body. The electrolyte is required for transporting ions and
neurotransmission from brain to rest of the body and back.
It also
maintains a stable fluid level that is necessary for proper expansion and
contraction of the muscles.
Apricots
contain a healthy level of potassium and a moderate quantity of sodium.These
are essential minerals required by the body to optimize the electrolyte levels
in the body.
For more information please
contact
Dr
Chigora
+263775
271794
+263737
221 694
Zimbabwe