Dried apricots - one of the favorite delicacies of many gourmets. All over the world this oriental sweet is widely used in cooking. It can be found in the most varied variations of serving: both as a separate dessert dish, and as an additive in the preparation of various pastries, cereals, delicious desserts or drinks. Dried apricots are even used in the preparation of many meat dishes, salads and marinades. Undoubtedly, the amazing advantages of such fruits include the amazing sweet taste and aroma. In addition, this type of dried fruit perfectly satisfies hunger. However, the indisputable benefit of dried apricots is that it has a unique mineral and vitamin composition. Therefore, in many therapeutic and discharge diets, it is recommended as an alternative to sweets.
The benefits of dried fruit
Despite the fact that dried apricots have a relatively small amount of vitamins, in terms of minerals and fiber, they are considered clear leaders among many other dried fruits.
The advantage of dried apricots for the body is that it is able to compensate for the lack of many vital trace elements. In addition, its organic acids and pectins contribute to the excretion of heavy metals and radionuclides from the body.
What stores dried fruit?
The delicate pulp of dried apricots not only has an amazing taste, but also has an excellent chemical composition, due to which it is widely used in various diets and traditional medicine. The main micro and macro elements that make up this amazing product and determine the indisputable benefits of dried apricots are:
- Vitamin A - contributes to the normalization of the human reproductive system and has a beneficial effect on the condition of nails, hair and skin.
- B vitamins - are necessary to optimize the metabolism in the body, significantly improve brain activity.
- Vitamin C - is a powerful source of body defenses, strengthens blood vessels and takes part in collagen production.
- Vitamin E - has a rejuvenating effect on the whole body as a whole, contributes to the normal functioning of the reproductive organs.
- Vitamin PP - stabilizes the level of cholesterol in the blood and normalizes the protein balance in the body;
- Iron - necessary for the phenomena of anemia, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous and circulatory systems.
- Potassium - is necessary for the full functioning of the heart and stabilization of many vital processes in the body.
- Calcium is an essential element that is necessary for the skeletal and muscular systems.
- Phosphorus - positively affects the functioning of the brain and supports the vitality of the body.
- Copper - promotes the absorption of iron and affects the turgor of the skin.
It is surprising that it is in dried apricots that the benefits and harms are more pronounced than the effect on the body of fresh apricots. This is due to the fact that in the drying process in the fruits, they completely ripen and evaporate excess moisture. Such chemical processes cause a multiple concentration of the beneficial substances contained in the fruits.
Properties of dried apricots
This variety of dried fruits has excellent restorative qualities. Dried apricots can prevent and alleviate the symptoms of anemia, some heart diseases and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended for diabetes and as a means to improve the functioning of the organs of vision. If dried apricots are regularly included in your diet, then the vessels will remain elastic, and cholesterol plaques will not form on their walls.
Dried apricots are an excellent way to preserve the beauty and youth of the skin. Since they are the source of necessary micro and macro elements, their use not only contributes to the overall healing of the body, but also makes the hair and nails stronger. Therefore, the benefits of dried apricots become apparent.
Harm and unwanted effects
However, there are opinions that dried apricots can harm the body. Excessive consumption of dried apricot fruits can provoke digestive disorders. Ideally, their use should not exceed 4-6 pieces per day.
In addition, if only these dried fruits are present in the diet, then a deficiency of other necessary substances may occur in the body. Therefore, to ensure the normal functioning of all organs and systems, it is advisable to regularly eat (in addition to dried apricots) raisins, nuts, honey, lemons. The benefits of these products, as well as the beneficial qualities of dried apricots, have been known to mankind since time immemorial.
Another limitation for eating dried apricots is their intolerance. Some people suffer from various allergies to this product.
Do not forget that any dried fruit is a dish with a high glucose content. This means that people with diabetes should be taken with caution. Therefore, the benefits and harms of dried apricots for the body for many people are relative concepts. In such cases, dried apricot will really be useful only when consumed in very small quantities.
The calorie content of dried apricots is approximately 240 kcal (per 100 g of dried fruit).
Secrets of choice
In order for dried fruits to bring the expected healing effect, they must be correctly selected. But how to do that? Indeed, on the shelves there are so many different kinds of dried fruits: from plain and small to bright, greasy and juicy.
Oddly enough, it is a beautiful, bright orange and fleshy dried apricots that can be completely useless and even dangerous for the body. Usually, the fruits obtain an excellent presentation as a result of chemical processing.
The "right" dried apricots, the benefits of which are so obvious, usually have a very plain appearance. The color of the dried fruit, which was not subjected to any processing, is close to natural, and completely opaque. During the process of natural drying, a light grayish tint appears on the surface of dried apricots, and the flesh becomes moderately stiff and elastic.
Using dried apricots in cooking
Dried apricots in cooking are used everywhere. Various jelly, compotes and fruit drinks are prepared from them. Dried apricots (benefits and harm to the body in this case are not taken into account) are widely used in the preparation of a wide variety of sweets, desserts and confectionery.
In eastern countries, this dried fruit is ground and added to various seasonings, spicy mixtures. Such “cocktails” are used in the preparation of meat, poultry and fish dishes, which makes the dishes more fragrant and acquire a specific sour-sweet flavor.
Dried apricots are added to sour-milk dishes and desserts, fruit salads and various cereals. Dietary soups are even boiled from it. Often you can find recipes according to which these oriental dried fruits are recommended to be baked, stewed or boiled. They are wonderfully combined with other berries, fruits and nuts, so dried apricots are inexhaustible interest for cooks.
Dried fruits in the diet
In eastern countries, not only the beneficial qualities of dried fruits, but also their ability to satisfy hunger have long been valued. Therefore, merchants and seafarers, going on long journeys, always took with them fragrant dried apricots. This made it possible to replenish your diet with useful elements and save supplies. Nowadays, such qualities have not lost their relevance, therefore, dried apricots are widely used in various methods of diets.
Followers of a healthy lifestyle and adherents of various diets have long appreciated the benefits of raisins, prunes, dried apricots. No wonder such mixtures are an integral part of medical and dietary nutrition.
In tandem with raisins
If we consider dried fruits separately, then each of them will differ in its own set of necessary substances and affect the body in different ways. For example, the uniqueness of raisins is that it has good laxative qualities, so it is often recommended for constipation. In addition, white and black dried grapes have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system, increase hemoglobin and are useful for stomach ailments. Therefore, in a combination of raisins and dried apricots, the benefits of the healing mixture becomes even more pronounced. When added to a culinary dish, dried fruits complement each other in terms of taste and beneficial properties.
Prunes and Dried Apricots
An excellent combination of prunes and dried apricots gives an equally effective result. Dried fruits of plum trees of certain varieties contribute to the normalization of blood pressure, have a beneficial effect on the composition of the blood and the condition of the skin. They are recommended as a means for the prevention of cancer. Since dried plums, in addition to some laxative effect, also have a diuretic, it is believed that with the regular presence in the diet of a mixture of dried apricots and prunes, it will be useful for people who are prone to the formation of edema.
Summarize
The regular presence in the diet of various dried fruits has a beneficial effect on the whole organism. However, choosing the “right” dried fruit, you should pay attention to the appearance of the fruit: the brighter and more beautiful the color, the more likely it is to buy a product treated with chemicals. Such dried fruits should not be consumed. To experience all the benefits of dried apricots, buy only a natural product. Eat right and be healthy!