Apricots — a very interesting product, which contains as a lot of useful features and harmful features. Therefore, their eating must be treated with extreme caution. So you won’t have any difficulties, tell you about the benefits and harms of apricots.
The composition of apricots
Apricots are lots of beta-carotine, that is, antioxidants and substances necessary for good vision.Also there is vitamin a, and clean, which is metabolized in any way. In addition, apricots are rich in vitamin C — the strongest onkoprotektor and helper of the immune system.
The apricots are high in potassium, so they can help maintain blood vessel tone. Also it helps to function the kidneys and bladder: good to eat apricots for kidney stones and nephritis. Iron and magnesium help to strengthen the production of hemoglobin in the blood and improve the condition of the body with severe anemia.
In the composition of fruits high in fiber, which helps to absorb the most part of cholesterol. Therefore, the blood remains purer than no apricots. With regular consumption one can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. In addition, the fiber helps digestion and absorption of it in the gut.
Moreover, apricot a lot of salt iodine. They help the thyroid gland, preventing development of goiter and stimulating the production of many hormones needed by the human body.
In General, the apricots are low in calories — 100 grams of product only 28 kcal. Dried calorie reaches 44-48 kcal. Also apricots are natural antioxidants and are involved in the body’s metabolic processes. In the composition of this fruit a lot of the following vitamins and minerals:
- B vitamins (B1, B8, B9);
- Vitamins a and C;
- Fruit acids — malic, citric, tartaric. They help cleanse the human body of toxins and has a rejuvenating effect;
- Potassium;
- Flavonoids and polyphenols — are a connecting link between free radicals and affect the process of metabolism;
- Carbohydrates and polysaccharides;
- Magnesium;
- Phosphorus;
- Calcium;
- Iron;
- Copper.
The use of apricots
The use of apricots, both dried and fresh, it is difficult to overestimate. She found use in medicine and cosmetology. So, calcium in their composition, helps strengthen bones and promotes their growth. Pregnant and lactating women for this reason just have to include fruits in your diet. Also apricots will be useful to arthritis and osteoarthritis because they have anti-inflammatory properties.
In diseases of the heart and vascular systems, the apricots will maintain blood vessel tone and reduce blood pressure. This is due to the potassium in their composition. But phosphorus takes part in the synthesis of hemoglobin.
Apricots are beneficial for the nervous system — improve memory, slow the process of degeneration of nerve endings and activate brain processes. Thanks to the carotene in humans, improves vision. Apricots have anti-inflammatory and mucolytic effects. And the fiber helps to improve digestion, promotes cleansing of the digestive tract. Thus, it will help people with constipation.
Apricots are helpful for diabetics, because high fructose can help to control the sugar level in the blood. Iodine affects the thyroid gland. Apricots are also beneficial for the kidneys.
Cosmetic effect apricots almost priceless: they improve the condition of the skin, have a rejuvenating effect and contribute to wrinkles. These fruits have lots of antioxidants, improving immune status.
Harm apricot
Of harmful properties can be found, perhaps, in the bones. The fact that they have hydrocyanic acid and amygdalin, is dangerous to humans. However, their number is so small that you need to work hard to be poisoned. Besides contained in the pulp of the fruit pectin removes harmful substances from the body.
Unwanted actions apricots are primarily connected with abuse. For example, people with high acidity of gastric juice can be heartburn. Diabetics too will increase blood sugar, while pregnant, the fetus inside of which is a slow heartbeat, apricots can harm the baby, because the fruit effect on the heart activity. Also apricots are not recommended to people with weak digestion who are prone to diarrhea.
Contraindications
Apricot juice is rich in sugars, including glucose. Therefore, those that suffer from diabetes, it is better not to consume this fruit is in principle. Dried apricots are not as sweet (dried apricots and dried apricots). Also due to the large amount of sugar they are not recommended for people with metabolic disorders. If you have no contraindications, please — eat apricots, because they are extremely useful.
And apricot seed make oil, which is used in medicine and cosmetology. There are a lot of useful properties, allowing to treat diseases of the respiratory tract and kidneys. In cosmetics it is usually used in creams or shampoos.
How to choose and store apricots
To useful properties have been at the maximum, we must first choose the right apricots. Thus, the fruit should be fragrant, yellow or orange, and not too hard, so they are not ripe. And quality of ripe apricots do not have damaged skin, Mecosta, brown spots. But even if you have bought unripe apricots, they can be brought to maturity. For this you need to put them in a dark place for a few days.
Apricots — a very delicate fruits that need careful storage so the juiciness and freshness is maximized, and therefore remained good. Therefore, in any case, do not leave them at room temperature — so the shelf life is only a day. But when stored in the refrigerator, the period increases to two to three days. Also apricots can be frozen, which will preserve the fruit for up to six months. However, they will not lose their useful properties.