health benefits of Apricots
We usually give attention to those fruits which are generally noticed in the market like apple, banana, guava, mango, etc. We must understand there are a lot more fruits that are also good for health as they keep us fit and fine. These fruits protect us from deficiency of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Today we will discuss a fruit that can be eaten raw and also in a dried format. The name of this fruit is “Apricot”. We need to understand the health benefits of apricots as to why it is so much useful for everyone. It has powerful health benefits and fully loaded with high nutrients, and antioxidants too.
What is an Apricot?
An Apricot is a complete fruit and it belongs to the Prunus family. Basically, an apricot is from the species of P. Armeniaca, and in the Indian language, it is known as “Khubani”. The major countries that produced apricots are such as Russia, the USA, France, Spain, Turkey, and Italy. Apricots are an orange-yellow color, sweet and sour taste with a stone-like seed in the middle of the fruit. It can be consumed fresh, cooked, and dry form like prunes and plum.
Of the total production, 85% comes from California, US.
Apricot producer states in India – In India apricots are grown in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and some parts of northern-western UP. India produces a considerable quantity and mainly imports such as prunus fruit to fulfill the demand.
Let’s hurry up and understand how eating Apricot is beneficial for health!
- Very nutritional & Low Calorie
Apricots are enriched with many essential minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. Apart from that it also contains proteins but in moderate quantity. It is low in fat i.e. 0.4 g and no Cholesterol. It also contains beta carotene and lutein that help in removing free radicals from your body. The fresh two (2) pieces of apricots (70 gm) are quite sufficient for your daily need and it keeps you energetic the whole day. In 70 grams you get the following nutrients for your body on regular basis.
Outline
So, we must include apricots in our daily diet to get rich nutrients, low in calories that keep you energetic the whole day. It also completes your vitamin and required minerals for an optimal level.
- A great source of Antioxidants
You must be wondering to know about Apricots anti-oxidant properties. Apricots are an absolute source of many anti-oxidants that include beta carotene, Vitamin –A, Vitamin-C, and Vitamin-E as well. Furthermore, they are also enriched with polyphenol anti-oxidants which are termed flavonoids. These flavonoids play an important role to protect you from heart diseases, control your aging process, and removes wrinkles as well. Apricots are useful for diabetic patients and it maintains insulin level in the body.
Flavonoids in apricots are a combination of such chemicals (Chlorogenic acids, catechins, and quercetin) that neutralize free radicals (harmful compounds) to protect you from chronic diseases like heart diseases, obesity, and cancer. So, go for Apricots that may keep you healthy, makes blood circulation better, improves your skin texture, and promote eye health.
Outline
Antioxidants are produced by our body when we eat nutritious and healthy foods on the regular basis. These are substances/molecules produced by our cells to remove hard metals or free radicals/toxins from the body. When you are exposed to tobacco, smoking, or pollution the body breaks down food into free radicals and the same start creating issues in your body. These free radicals once go on a higher level then it suppresses ant-oxidants where your body gradually gets inflicted with chronic diseases.
- Improves eye health
Apricots are enriched with Vitamin –A and Vitamin-E compounds which are essential for the eye. It is a well-known fact that Vitamin-A plays a crucial role in preventing blurred vision, losing eye muscles, night blindness, etc. Vitamin –E is quite a helpful anti-oxidants which is fat-soluble and easily enters your eyes to protect them from free radical that can cause damage to your eyes.
As we discussed other antioxidants i.e. carotenoids that are present in lenses and retinas of your eyes protect from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. The experts believe that a regular intake of apricots can prevent degeneration of eye muscles in age-related vision ailments. It also reduces dryness in the eyes by stimulating tear production so that movement of eyeballs becomes smooth.
- Enhances your Skin texture and delays the aging process
The presence of Vitamin-C and other Flavonoids (Antioxidants) acts prominently towards easy digestion of foods and boosts glutathione levels in your body. As we know the glutathione eliminates free radicals and hard metals from your body and rejuvenates cells.
For good and glowing skin, you can use Apricots scrubs that help in exfoliation of the damaged skin cells and prevent pigmentation and help the newer and lighter skin to come out. You can use good apricot sunscreen cream that protects from sunburn due to the beta carotene nutrient which is easily available in apricots.
Apricot oil may help with skin suppleness and maintains moisture levels. You can use apricot oil with Almond oil and prepare a facial mask and keep it for some time and then see the result. It makes your skin soft, gives a natural glowing, and gradually removes fine lines.
Outline
Apricots are enriched with Vitamin – C, Vitamin – E, and other flavonoids which protect us from many diseases and guard against sunlight, pollution, and smoking. These substances are beneficial to our skin texture delays the aging process and lowers the risk of sunburn.
- Regulates blood pressure and lowers the risk of stroke
Apricots are high in potassium that works as an electrolyte in our body. Potassium plays an important role to communicate nerve signals to the brain and regulate muscle contractions. If we eat a minimum of 2 apricots daily we get almost 180 mg of potassium that acts very precisely with sodium( the food we eat) and maintains the fluid balance and keeps away from bloating and maintains blood pressure easily. So, try to include at least dry apricot, if not a fresh one available.
- Apricots help in weight loss and reduce belly fats
We all wish to become slim and be looked healthy with a balanced body. But, is it really possible without doing exercise and yoga? The answer would be yes, and it is feasible once we start eating such fruits that have shown good results in the weight loss process as some recent research says.
Apricots are one of them as scientists have claimed that adding apricots in our meal on regular basis can help reduce fats and makes a perfect body. It is due to the organic compound i.e. “Amino Acid” in apricot that reacts with foods as a molecular metabolism process and triggers the brain cells called tanycytes. That tanycytes detect nutrients in food and play a vital role in controlling appetite. When we eat apricots we do not feel empty and the food craving doesn’t compel us to eat more.
Outline
“Apricots are one of those fruits which contain such amino acids that stimulate tanycytes more than others and can satisfy the hunger for a longer period. So, eat apricot in the form of salads, make smoothies, and also can have in dry form.
I would like to say….
Apricots are the healthiest and delicious fruit enriched with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and other minerals. It helps to protect your heart, improves your eye, skin, and keeps your blood pressure in control. So go for fresh or dried apricots in form of yogurt, smoothies, and salads.
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