Hey there viewers!
Apricot scones.
Apricot strawberry smoothies.
Apricot almond cake.
Apricot cookies!
My mouth begins to water every time I think about anything with apricots.
This delicious fruit can be used for so many desserts and breakfast options!
I’m yet to find someone who doesn’t like apricots.
But does this fruit offer health benefits?
In today’s video, we’ll be discussing 9 health and nutrition benefits of apricots.
Are they good for your eyes?
What about the claims that they boost your skin health?
We’ll be talking about all of these AND more…
1.
Nutritious and low in calories Apricots are packed with nutrients, and have
many of the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Two apricots, weighing about 70 grams in total, come with only 34 calories.
With just those two apricots, you also get 8 grams of carbs and 1 gram of protein.
The apricots will also give your body less than a gram of fat, and 1.5 grams of fiber,
all of which are important for your overall health.
More importantly, you get between 4 to 8% of your daily requirement of vitamins A, C
and E. You also will get 4% of the potassium your body needs every day.
You need to eat them whole and without peeling, as the skin has a large amount of nutrients
and fiber.
How do you like to eat apricots?
Do you prefer fresh ones over dried?
Do you peel and eat them?
Share your preferences with the Bestie community in the comments below...
2.
Antioxidants Apricots are also rich in antioxidants, including
the very important beta carotene.
They also have a group of polyphenols called flavonoids.
Wondering why flavonoids are so important?
Well, they help fight free radicals that cause oxidative stress and end up damaging your
cells.
Oxidative stress causes other issues like obesity, and illnesses like diabetes and heart
disease.
These free radicals are formed in your body due to aging and exposure to pollutants and
sun.
In one study of more than 2300 people, researchers looked for changes in inflammatory levels.
They found that those with a high intake of flavonoids had an inflammation score that
is significantly lower than others.
The same study also showed the chances of oxidative stress are about 56% lower among
the group that had a high flavonoid intake.
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3.
Promotes eye health Apricots offer you two very important vitamins,
A and E. People who suffer from night blindness have a deficiency in vitamin A. This particular
vitamin ensures there are enough light pigments in your eyes.
Similarly, vitamin E works as an antioxidant that protects your eye from the damage done
by free radicals.
Along with the vitamins, apricots also have beta carotene.
This particular compound gives apricots their distinct yellowish orange color.
Your body can convert the beta carotene into vitamin A.
There are other carotenoids in apricots like lutein and zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin).
These are present in the lenses and retinas of your eyes.
These will block your eyes from oxidative stress.
4.
Boosts skin health You don’t realize this, but your skin is
harmed every day by exposure to UV rays.
These come from sunlight and pollution.
Even cigarette smoke is harmful for your skin health.
These environmental factors cause premature aging, which shows up in the form of wrinkles
and dull skin.
Your skin just won’t have the elasticity it used to.
Research shows a direct correlation between ultraviolet light exposure, sunburns, and
the risk of melanoma.
When you eat apricots regularly, you’re helping your skin fight off the risk of skin
damage.
The vitamin C neutralizes free radicals and protects you from UV light damage.
Vitamin C also helps build collagen, which is important for increasing the strength and
elasticity of your skin.
The beta carotene in apricots also aids in preventing sunburns.
In one study conducted for 10 weeks, participants given beta carotene supplements reduced the
risk of sunburn by 20%.
Before we move ahead, here’s another video you might like.
Apricots are great for your skin.
But did you know there are other foods that can also keep your skin healthy?
Here’s a video on the 9 best foods that boost collagen production in your body...
5.
Promotes gut health When you consume one cup of cut apricots,
weighing 165 gms, it provides you with as much as 3 grams of fiber.
This comes to 9% of the daily requirement for men and 13% of what women require every
day.
The fruit contains both soluble and insoluble fiber.
As the names suggest, soluble fiber dissolves in water, while the insoluble fiber does not.
Apricots have more soluble fiber, which helps maintain blood sugar levels, as well as your
cholesterol.
The fiber that comes with apricots also helps the food move slower through your digestive
tract.
This can help improve gut health by promoting good bacteria.
When you have a healthier gut, you will have a lower chance of obesity.
6.
High in potassium Apricots also come packed with potassium.
This particular mineral works as an electrolyte for your body.
It tells your brain about muscle contractions and fluid balance.
Just two apricots, weighing about 70 grams, can give you 181 milligrams of potassium,
which comes to 4% of what your body requires on a daily basis.
Potassium works with sodium to keep your body’s fluids in balance.
This means that when you consume enough potassium, you avoid bloating, and ensure you have healthy
blood pressure.
Research shows that those whose diets are packed with potassium have lower blood pressure
levels.
It also reduced the chances of a stroke by 24%.
7.
Hydrating Like most fruits, apricots are filled with
water.
The fluids that come with apricots will not only help with your blood pressure, but also
regulate your body temperature and heart rate.
When you consume one cup of freshly cut apricots, weighing 165 grams, you give your body more
than 140 ml of water.
This comes to two-thirds a cup of water.
Considering that most of us have a dehydration problem, eating apricots can help ensure you
remain hydrated.
Hydration keeps your blood pressure at a normal level, transports nutrients throughout your
body and gets rid of waste.
8.
Protects your liver Data suggests apricots can prevent your liver
from being affected by oxidative stress.
Two studies were conducted on rats, where one group was given alcohol with apricots,
and the other was given just alcohol.
The rats with the apricots had fewer liver enzymes and inflammation markers than the
group not given the fruit.
The research suggests apricots can help prevent liver damage thanks to the high amount of
antioxidants they have.
9.
Easy to include in your diet Apricots are easy to consume, and can be added
to your diet without any big adjustments.
Whether you prefer fresh or dried apricots, they make for a delicious snack.
You can add apricots to any of your favorite meals.
For instance, you can slice them up and eat them along with your yogurt or salad.
Or how about adding them to your cakes and pastries?
If you’re eating trail mix, you can add apricots by stirring them in.
You can also stew the apricots in a slow cooker along with chicken or beef.
You can even use the fruit as part of a jam or salsa you might be preparing.
If nothing else, apricots can simply be consumed as a snack.
If any of the foods you’re making have peaches or plums as part of the recipe, you can substitute
them with apricots.
They’re just as sweet.
Apricots are definitely a nutritious fruit, but there are many other fruits bursting with
nutrition.
Some of them can even double as medicine.
Yes, that’s true!
But you need to exercise caution if you’re diabetic.
Not all fruits are for you.
Here’s what you need to know...
Check out 9 Fruits You Should Be Eating, And 8 You Shouldn’t If You Are Diabetic!
You can also try 14 Fruits That Double As Medicine...
Go ahead, click one.
Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about fruits, nutrition, and health.
Do you eat apricots regularly?
Are you planning to include apricots in your daily diet after watching this video?
Let us know in the comments below!