Do you want to add a healthy snack to your diet? The delicious Dried Apricots can be the best option. As the name signifies, these superfoods are dried versions of apricot fruit.
Basically, dried apricots are a nutritive superfood, loaded with many nutrients. Consuming it per day meets the body’s requirement of 94% Vitamin A and 19% iron. They have an aromatic fragrance and crunchy taste.
These superfoods contain a high amount of Vitamin E, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron. There is also great content of carotenoids and antioxidants. Being low in calories and fat-free, they provide many health benefits. Keep reading the article and learn more about them.
Top Health Benefits Of Nutritive Dried Apricots You Should Know
Promotes Eye Health
The dried apricots are rich in Vitamin A and E, carotenoids, and beta-carotene, beneficial for good eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids, a great aid for retina and eye lenses, protecting against oxidative stress.
Beta-Carotene and Vitamins A and E have a great role in preventing eye diseases. These nutrients lower the risks of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin A present in dried apricots prevents night blindness, a condition when the eyes lack light pigments. On the other hand, Vitamin E protects the eye from the damages of free radicals.
One dried apricot consists of 33.6 milligrams of Vitamin A, which meets approximately 5% of the body’s daily requirement of Vitamin A.
Protects Skin
The super dried apricots give several great benefits to the skin. Generally, environmental factors like sunlight, pollutants, temperature, etc. are the main causes of skin damage. You can fight against these issues by including the nutrient-rich superfood in your healthy diet.
Dried apricots contain a high level of antioxidants like beta-carotene, protecting skin from sunburns and extreme Ultraviolet(UV) damage. Rich in Vitamin C and E, which have skin-boosting properties, these superfoods reduce wrinkles, minimize acne spots and pores, and enhance skin elasticity.
Betters Gut Health
The dried apricots consist of plenty of soluble as well as insoluble fibers, beneficial for the healthy digestive system. Soluble fiber helps in retaining enough water and promoting good bacterial growth in the digestive tract. On the other hand, insoluble fiber maintains the level of healthy gut bacteria.
These fibers also slow down the food movement through the digestive tract and feed all the gut bacteria. The higher the nourishing gut microbiomes, the lower the risk of obesity. You can include a healthy snack in your evening meal such as a “Trial mix”, consisting of granola, nuts, dried apricots, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.
Moreover, you can sprinkle the unsweetened raw cacao powder over the Trial Mix to enhance its flavor and fragrance. This superfood is so delicious and healthy. Basically, Dried apricots consist of nearly 2 g of fiber in 1/2 cup.
Aid For Weight Loss
The nutritious dried apricots are loaded with a high amount of fibers which helps in losing weight. These nutrients promote the brain cells, “tanycytes”, which maintain your hunger. They keep the stomach full for a longer period and prevent you from overeating. These superfoods even fight against craving cramps.
In addition, fibers boost the metabolism, leading to excess fat loss. Being low in calories, also makes these superfoods a nutritive option for maintaining a healthy weight. One cup of dried apricots consists of 4 g of fiber. Just add them as the topping on the salads and sprinkle some seeds such as chia and flax seeds. This will fulfill the daily intake of fiber in your body.
Treats Anemia
During the pregnancy and periods, there is a high risk of anemia. This is a condition when there is a lack of iron in the body, causing weakness, digestive issues, dizziness, fatigue, and overall metabolism breakdown. Additionally, it leads to a deficiency of Red Blood Cells(RBCs), without them blood cannot get reoxygenated and body organs begin to damage.
So, to fulfill the iron requirement, dried apricots are the most promising option. These superfoods consist of iron and copper, a great aid for the production of hemoglobin. One can gain nearly 3.5 mg of iron from one cup of dried apricots. Moreover, as these superfoods are rich in Vitamin C, they enhance iron absorption in the body.
Aids Diabetes
If you are diabetic, then undoubtedly, dried apricots are the best nutritional diet. It has a very low content of calories, approximately 17 kcal, and less amount of carbs, about 4 g. In addition, being highly rich in fiber, these superfoods maintain blood sugar levels.
Besides this, dried apricots are low in glycemic index, that means your blood sugar level will rise slowly instead of rapidly. This nutritive dry fruit is also a great source of vitamin E, helping to lower high blood sugar spikes.
Also Read: 5 Superfoods to Add to Your Diet
Improves Heart Health
The high Vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber content of dried apricots improve heart health. The antioxidants such as lycopene and Vitamin C prevent cardiovascular disorders like heart attacks, strokes, coronary artery disease, Abnormal heart rhythms, etc.
In addition, potassium present in these superfoods reduces the bad cholesterol level and high blood pressure, thus, enhancing the cardiovascular health.
Helps Prevent Cancer
The consumption of dried apricots is directly associated with a reduced risk of cancer. These healthy dry fruits contain antioxidants and carotenoids, protecting the body from the damage of the free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules produced during cell metabolism that can convert the healthy cells of the body into cancerous ones through DNA mutation. Antioxidants act as a protector against these harmful compounds, preventing cancer and strengthening the immune system. In addition, Vitamin B17 found in apricots can fight cancer and slows down its potential for mutation.
Strengthens Bones Health
Almost all the minerals are found in dried apricots which are essential for healthy bone growth. Calcium, iron, phosphorus, copper, and manganese are among them. So, consume these delicious superfoods by adding to your morning diet plan and strengthen the growth and development of the bones.
Moreover, apricots even reduce the chances of several age-related bone disorders like osteoporosis, loss of bone density, and weak bone problems. However, dried figs are also a good option as they are highly rich in minerals such as calcium phosphorus, and manganese. These superfoods maintain the calcium content in bones and prevent the risks of bone diseases.
Relieves Respiratory System
Several phytonutrients present in the dried apricots benefit relieving inflammation in the throat and reducing sinus attacks. As a result, it improves overall respiratory health. More than this, the Vitamin C content of these superfoods enables the immune system to fight the root cause of infection.
Cures Fever
Dried apricots are full of essential minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins which provide great benefit to feverish patients. In addition, they detoxify various organs.
The anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of the dried apricots maintain the overall temperature of the body during fever. Even though they prevent inflammation in many parts of the body, which is helpful for people suffering from arthritis.
Summing Up
The dried apricots are healthy, nutrient-rich superfoods. They are loaded with powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. Providing multiple benefits, they maintain a healthy weight, treat anemia, protect the skin, aid diabetes, and strengthen bone health.
Additionally, apricots prevent cancer and promote eye and gut health. It is very easy and simple to add dried apricots to your salads, healthy mixes, yogurt, or any dishes.