 |
| |
Healthy Diet Plans >>
Therapeutic Value of Different Foods >>
Fruits >>
Apricot |
|
| |
Apricot for good eyesight
Apricots are relative to peaches available from May through August in North America.
Although canned apricots are available throughout the year, fresh apricots loaded with vitamin C and beta carotene are the first sign in summer. Apricots are small fruits with golden orange color, sweet and smooth flesh and velvety skin. Some may describe the flavor of apricot somewhere between a peach and a plum.
Health and apricots Apricot is a very good source of fiber, beta carotene, lycopene, vitamin A and phytochemicals called carotenoids.
- Beta carotene and lycopene from apricots take care of the heart health by preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
- Vitamin A, a potent antioxidant helps to scavenge the free radicals that damages the cells and tissues and decreases the oxidative stress in the body.
The free radicals may cause an injury to the eye lenses and may lead to cataract or damage the blood supply to the eye causing macular degeneration. To protect your eyesight it is important to include foods rich in vitamin A and beta carotene like apricots in diet. Researches suggest that three or more servings of fruits per day may help lower the risk of age related macular degeneration, which is the primary cause of vision loss in older people by 36% than the other counterpart who consumed less than 1.5 servings of fruits per day. Although 3 servings of fruits may sound too much, it can be easily incorporated in a day’s diet, by simply tossing banana or apple with your morning cereal, with a green salad and fruit salad in between and snacking on an apricot later may successfully complete this demand. - The carotenoid lycopene in apricots has a protective effect against prostate cancer in men. Choosing lycopene rich foods like green tea, tomatoes, grapefruit, papaya, water melon, apricots and guava help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Studies prove that men who ate fruits rich in lycopene were 82% less likely to suffer from prostate cancer compared to the one who did not consume lycopene rich foods. To have a synergistic effect of lycopene, along with apricots also include other foods rich in lycopene like green tea, tomatoes, papaya and grapefruit. - Fiber from apricots help relieve constipation, they have cancer protective activity, combat bowel irregularity, and prevent diverticulitis and colon cancer.
- Commercially grown dried apricots while processing may be treated with sulfur dioxide gas or sulfites to extend their shelf life and to prevent oxidation and bleaching of colors. These compounds can cause adverse reactions, especially to those who are sensitive to sulfite. Patients with asthma may be sensitive to sulfite reactions, thus unsulfured dried apricots that have brown color are an healthier option for these individuals.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
