Features of the use of apricots, their benefits and harms
With the arrival of summer, the most favorite season for children and adults comes, when you can enjoy natural vitamins in the form of a variety of fruits and berries. Apricots are rightfully considered one of the most delicious fruits, the benefits and dangers of which have been written a lot. Before using them, it does not hurt to remember what effect the fruits have on the body and what could be if we neglect their side effects.
Read also the article: about the benefits of cherries.
The main components of apricot
- salts and minerals play an important role in the metabolic processes of the body and restore the nervous system;
- iodine activates the activity of the thyroid gland, reducing the incidence of its diseases, and affects the level of cholesterol;
- iron is involved in hematopoietic processes;
- calcium accelerates blood clotting and makes bones strong;
- potassium helps the kidneys to remove excess fluid accumulated in the body;
- magnesium and phosphorus regulate the work of the gastrointestinal tract, promote the absorption of nutrients and normalize acidity.
Fresh apricots have a low calorie content, so they can be consumed during diet and fasting days. Only 44 kilocalories per 100 g of fruit - why is not an ideal dietary product?
When including apricots in the dietary menu, one should take into account not only the calorie content, but also the rather high nutritional value as a result of the high sugar content (more than 10%).
The positive side of eating apricot
The benefits of apricots lie in their effect on the human body and the ability to alleviate the course of certain diseases, namely:
- It is useful to use them in the presence of anemia and diseases of the cardiovascular system due to the increased iron content.
- Apricots help to remove phlegm with a dry cough, and also help to alleviate the general condition of high body temperatures.
- Improve the functioning of the digestive system.
- Eliminate constipation.
- Acts as a diuretic while restoring water balance.
- They normalize acidity, and also have a positive effect on the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.
- Able to relieve mild pain.
- The large amount of carotene in apricots, when taken regularly, has a protective role against cancer, especially those associated with organs such as the throat, esophagus and urinary system.
- They are used in the treatment of atherosclerosis and varicose veins.
- Strengthens teeth and bone mass thanks to the high amount of calcium.
- They relieve symptoms of heavy metal intoxication well.
- They have a healing effect on wounds and cuts.
The beneficial properties of apricots find their application in the field of mental activity. Eating orange fruits fills the body with energy, which has a positive effect on endurance and performance. In addition, these fruits stimulate brain activity.
Contraindications to the use of apricots
First of all, it is worth noting that an excessive amount of consumed apricots (however, like any other fruit) can lead to poisoning, especially if they were unripe. Despite the significant benefits apricot, they can also be harmful, especially in the case of diseases such as:
- Diabetes.
- Decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism).
- Hepatitis.
Orange fruit should be used with caution for people prone to allergic reactions, as they can provoke the appearance of a rash.
Pediatricians do not recommend that young mothers include apricots in their diet when breastfeeding. The beneficial substances obtained with breast milk can play the opposite role and cause allergies or animal colic in infants.
We should also mention the use of apricots during pregnancy. In general, fruits are very useful for women in an interesting position, because they replenish the reserves of iron, potassium, minerals and other substances that are so necessary for the development of the fetus. Freshly squeezed apricot juice restores acidity in pregnant women and satisfies the need for carotene.
When eating apricots during pregnancy, the following points should be considered:
- do not eat fruit on an empty stomach;
- do not drink them with water;
- it is better to completely abandon apricots in case of acute gastritis, ulcers and bradycardia.
Properties of apricot kernels
Not only fruits, but also apricot seeds have a healing effect. Very useful is prepared from the nucleoli butter, which is included in the composition of drugs for the treatment of diseases of the skin and joints.
The oil owes its action to a wide range of useful trace elements:
- fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated);
- tocopherols;
- phospholipids;
- iron;
- sodium;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- vitamins of groups A, B, C, PP, F.
This composition is effective as a prophylactic agent in oncology, especially due to the small amount of cyanide. It is absolutely safe for healthy cells, but completely destroys cancer cells. However, the daily dose of seeds should not exceed 20 g.
Before self-medicating with drugs or infusions based on apricot kernels, you should definitely consult your doctor so as not to aggravate the situation.
Useful properties of dried apricots
To prepare apricots for future use, they are subjected to a drying process or dried. Depending on the processing methods, dried fruits are divided into the following types:
- Dried apricots. Apricot halves sun-dried in the sun with preliminary treatment with a special preparation against blackening and pests (sulfur dioxide).
- Dried apricots. Pitted apricots.
- She whispered. Dried apricots of large varieties, pitted.
- Kaisa. Dried fruits treated with sulfur dioxide and slightly dried.
Dried fruits have the same effect on the body as fresh ones, and in some cases bring even more benefits:
- Dried apricots contain fructose and sucrose, so they can be consumed by diabetics.
- Dried apricots help lower blood pressure and are indicated for hypertensive patients.
- Dried fruits are recommended to be included in the menu if you have problems with bowel cleansing.
- They can be added to medicinal mixtures to support the heart and increase hemoglobin levels.
- Dried apricots are useful for people with vision problems.
- Dried apricots in masks perfectly cleanse and rejuvenate the skin.
If you boil a rich broth from dried apricots and let it brew well, you can get rid of edema and activate the bladder robot.
As with fresh apricots, be careful when using dried apricots. This is especially true for people who are allergic to them, or stomach problems or pressure.
Dried fruits of the whispered variety retain up to 80% of sugars, so people suffering from diabetes should better refrain from eating them.
Useful properties of apricot tree bark
The benefits and harms of apricots for human health are not limited to fruits alone. Adherents of traditional medicine are well aware that the bark itself from the trunk of a tree can help in the treatment of certain diseases. Decoctions from the bark help to restore the body after a stroke, having a beneficial effect on the brain. In the old days, they were also given to women so that they would get stronger faster after a difficult birth.
Given the benefits and harms of apricots, they must be included in the menu, especially for the younger generation. After all, a young body really needs good nutrition and vitamins. It is also beneficial for older people to eat them to maintain a healthy balance in the body. A moderate intake of fruit will replenish vitamin stores and help with certain health problems.