Apricot also belongs to the family of stone fruits like mangoes. It is round, yellow and similar to peach but a smaller version. By its yellow pigment, you already know that it is also rich in antioxidants and can offer a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Health benefits of apricot are linked to good digestion as well as improve eye health.
Most of this fruit is cultivated and harvested in countries such as Greece, Turkey, Russia, the USA, and Italy. Although it has a hairy soft skin texture, it can be eaten with its skin.
1. Nutrients Dense and Low in Calorie
Apricot nutrition includes essential vitamins and minerals and eating 2 fresh fruit will only give you 34 calories and 8 grams of carbohydrates. Aside from that, it is loaded with Vitamins such as A, C, E, and fiber. You can take advantage of its antioxidant content like lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene that can aid in preventing the accumulation of free radicals in the body. You can enjoy it peeled or unpeeled but make sure not to eat the seed or stone in the middle.
2. High in Potent Antioxidants
Aside from antioxidants mentioned above, another promising one is the flavonoid that belongs to the polyphenol group that is known to safeguard the body from chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Flavonoids found in apricot are catechins, chlorogenic acids, and quercetin that are shown to neutralize free radicals that can cause oxidative stress to cells. Apricot benefits are found to be effective in reducing inflammatory markers.
A study conducted in 2,375 people with a high intake of food rich in flavonoids shown a huge drop of 42 to 73 percent inflammation markers and a 56 percent decline in oxidative stress.
3. Promote Better Vision
Apricot can help people to attain better vision through multiple compounds that are essential for overall eye health. One is vitamin A that can prevent night blindness which is characterized by the lack of light pigments in the eyes. Another is vitamin E which is a fat-soluble vitamin that is absorbed directly to the eyes to counter free radicals.
A person who depends largely on their vision for work needs a diet that is rich in these vitamins. Also, another plant compound that is useful for eye health is beta carotene which is the precursor of vitamin A, which means a substance needed to convert it to vitamins. Health professionals recommend apricot good for you as it is a source of carotenoids like zeaxanthin and lutein which are found within the retina of the eyes to protect it from oxidative stress.
4. Good for Skin Health
Consuming nutritious fruits can offer health benefits of apricot for skin health. A poor skin condition is caused by different factors such as pollution and too much sun exposure. A study linked to UV light exposure increases the risk of developing different skin disorders and a serious skin illness like melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Important vitamins like A and E have a neutralizing effect on the skin to block environmental pollutants.
Furthermore, a diet rich in these vitamins can promote the production of collagen that provides elasticity and strength to the skin and fight damages caused by free radicals. There is no doubt that apricot benefits the skin, but it is still imperative to use sunscreen as the first line of defense against sun damage.
5. Good for the Gut
Apricot nutrition includes giving protection to the gut. Being high in fiber, it is packed with both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber means it is easily dissolved by water while the insoluble does not dissolve in water like lignin and cellulose. Both of these two fibers are important for a healthy digestive system.
What fiber can do is to delay the movement of food within the digestive tract and serve as food for good bacteria in the gut. A healthy gut is known to decrease the risk of obesity.
6. Good Source of Potassium
Two serving of apricot can offer 181 mg of potassium in the diet that is 4 percent of the DV. Potassium is important for electrolyte balance in the body and it is vital for nerve signals and to regulate muscle contractions. Research about the health benefits of apricot stressed that a diet that is rich in potassium can significantly lower down blood pressure by 24 percent. If you want to attain a good quality of life, then apricot good for you and your overall health.
