Apricot

Apricot

known in  Latin as the plum of Armenia, these delicious fruits can be eaten in their fresh fruit form or dried as a tasty nutritious snack. These pretty little fruits are widely used as ingredients in baking or processed into jams and preserves. Apricot fruits are also commonly distilled into liquor or brandy in many countries around the world.

Apricot Nutrition

Soft and fleshy these tasty little fruits are high in beta-carotene which is converted into Vitamin A in the body and used in many cellular processes. They are Low in calories and a good source of fiber which is handy because this will help to keep you feeling fuller for longer, helping to reduce hunger stress during dieting.

Apricots’ big plus point has to be their high levels of the difficult-to-obtain Vitamin K. K is being touted as a real wonder vitamin at the moment and it’s no surprise as K helps with healthy blood clotting and bone building but is also vital to keep the blood vessels and heart valves free from calcification.

The body makes Vitamin K in the gut naturally but we should all be doing more to increase our vitamin K levels. If your diet isn’t as good as it should be or you’re not eating plenty of leafy green vegetables you could be lacking in Vitamin K? It is rare to be deficient in Vitamin K but this doesn’t mean it is usual to have enough Vitamin K to cover all the ongoing processes of the body that need attention? 100 grams of apricots will help provide around 5% of your daily needs of Vitamin K, add some leafy greens to apricot juice and a good probiotic to your regime and you will be good to go.

Health Benefits of Apricot

Apricots contain beta carotene which is great for maintaining healthy eyes, this hugely helpful anti-oxidant vitamin helps keep the retina free from the damaging free radicals that can cause visual problems and loss of sight.

Carotenoids found in apricot fruits are antioxidants that help prevent heart attacks, these natural health defenders also reduce the bad cholesterol in the body and protect against the risk of cancer.

Apricots are best eaten with the skin on because the skin contains fiber which helps to maintain healthy digestion and elimination. Dried apricots have been used by many people all over the world to relieve constipation and diarrhea.

Traditional Chinese medicine indicates that apricots help to replenish the vital fluids of the body and speed detoxification. Chinese women consume apricots to increase fertility because apricots contain many minerals that are needed to produce hormones.

Nutritional Data