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Health Benefits
Heart Disease Nutrients in apricots can help protect the heart and eyes, as well as provide the disease-fighting effects of fiber. The high beta-carotene content of apricots makes them important heart health foods. Beta-carotene helps protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation, which may help prevent heart disease. The degenerative effect of free radicals, or oxidative stress, may lead to cataracts or damage the blood supply to the eyes and cause macular degeneration. Researchers who studied over 50,000 registered nurses found women who had the highest vitamin A intake reduced their risk of developing cataracts nearly 40%.
Calcium supplement Apricot juice is an excellent source of calcium and iron compounds that is why it is highly recommended to pregnant women and young children. 150 ml of 100% apricot juice is enough to satisfy our daily need in carotene, and the juice is much easier to digest than apricot fruits.
Fibers and Minerals Apricots are a good source of fiber, which has a wealth of benefits including preventing constipation and digestive conditions such as diverticulosis. A healthy, whole foods diet should include apricots as a delicious way to add to your fiber intake. Magnesium can also help to normalize blood pressure very effectively.
Anaemia Apricot fruits are very useful to those people, who suffer from anaemia. Only 100 g of fresh apricot fruit has the same effect on blood flow as 250 g of fresh liver.
Blessing for Eyes Positive effects on our eye vision is one more important heath benefit of this fruit. Apricots contain good amounts of Vitamin A and can assist in improving vision. vitamin A promote good vision. Vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant, quenches free radical damage to cells and tissues. Free radical damage can injure the eyes' lenses. Apricots (especially dried apricots) are rich in potassium carbonate, necessary for the people who suffer from various heart related problems, especially arrhythmia and HF. Dried apricots (100-150 g a day) are recommended to all children and aged people as a health-giving natural remedy.
Good for Brain Health benefits of apricot include improved function of brain due to a high content of magnesium and phosphorus. Zeaxanthin, a carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal "macula lutea" in the eyes where it is thought to provide anti-oxidant and protective light-filtering functions. Thus, consumption of fruits like apricots rich in zeaxanthin helps eyes protect from age-related macular disease (AMRD), especially in the elderly people.
Acidity Apricot juice can be used to relief increased acidity in stomach, as well as relieve the symptoms of colitis, flatulence and bacterial imbalances. Fresh fruits are low in calories, composing just 50 calories per 100 g. However, they are rich source of dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The fruits are enriched with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals; that helps prevent heart disease, reduce LDL, ("bad cholesterol") levels and offers protection against cancers.
Dried Apricots and Sulfites Commercially grown dried apricots may be treated with sulfur dioxide gas during processing. They may also be treated with sulfites to extend their shelf life. Sulfur-containing compounds are often added to dried foods like apricots as preservatives to help prevent oxidation and bleaching of colors. The sulfites used to help preserve dried apricots cause adverse reactions in an estimated one out of every 100 people, who turn out to be sulfite sensitive. Sulfite reactions can be particularly acute in people who suffer from asthma.
Safety Pre-Cautions Dried apricots are often treated with sulfites to extend their shelf life by preventing oxidation and bleaching of colors, as in the case of other dried fruits like figs. Sulfite treated bright orange colored fruits can cause acute bronchospasm in sensitized people who are suffering from asthma episodes. Therefore, sulfite sensitive persons can instead safely use unsulfured dried fruits that have brown color.
Beta-carotene This is a precursor to Vitamin A and known to play vital roles in the body. Dried apricots benefits brought by beta-carotene include: treating rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, skin disorders, cataracts, age related macular degeneration, headaches and many more. Although helpful, those who take beta-carotene supplements have high chances of developing cancer or heart disease.
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