Even though that delicate orange colored fruit you love is small
in its size, it packs quite the nutritional punch! So much so, that it's
definitely worth writing about.
The apricot (which means "early
matured fruit" in Latin), was discovered in China, and I'm sure when it
was found it became quite the popular snack due to its abundance,
fragrance, taste, and nutritional value. The apricot trees grow up to 15
feet tall, and they'll actually produce fruit for an average of 25
years! That's a lot of apricots.
The main powerhouse nutrients and
vitamins in apricots are vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, iron,
phosphorus, calcium, and perhaps best of all (and a great asset to colon
health), fiber. Not to mention they're one of the healthier fruits you
can eat calorie and fat wise.
Keep in mind; we're talking about
fresh apricots in the above information. Most people associate apricots
with the dried version, and while those are still great and contain a
lot of fiber, they're also high in calories due to the sugar content,
and they may contain a preservative that has the possibility of
instigating asthma attacks. Never-the-less, dried apricots are still a
great snack alternative to candies and cakes, and they still contain
good amounts of iron and potassium.
Perhaps one of the most
revered assets of eating apricots is the extremely high level of
beta-carotene, which is a card carrying member of the anti-oxidant
family. Anti-oxidants, among other benefits, are best known for its role
in disease fighting and prevention. Just one apricot contains roughly
30% of the recommended US daily intake amount of beta-carotene. So get
to eating!
When ingested, beta-carotene converts to vitamin A,
which is a key vitamin that keeps your gums, hair, and skin healthy (not
to mention a host of other glands and organs). Vitamin A helps in
fighting disease due to it's immune system boosting power, and much
research has been done on apricots to harness the vast amounts of
beta-carotene (vitamin A), so that it can be used for healing.
Not
only does an apricot contain a healthy amount of fiber, which is key
for good colon health (helps to clean out the "gunk" that builds up over
time), it's also on the starting lineup for fighting heart disease.
Apricots contain a couple other powerful substances which you may know
as Vitamin C, and also Lycopene. When you combine the above two, the
resulting compound is an excellent way to protect yourself from heart
disease, stroke, and even many forms of cancer.
Just remember the
next time your in the produce isle, don't pass these babies up. Pick up a
few for good health. Avoid the green ones (which will never ripen), and
make sure you refrigerate them when you get home to keep them fresh.
They're a great after school snack that will help keep everyone healthy!
By
Ryan L. 