Apricot Health Benefits

Apricots are fruits with a golden skin and velvety texture. They are roughly round in shape and are smaller in size, as compared to peaches. Even though sweet in taste, these fruits have a tartness too. Apricots have stony pits, from which apricot kernel oil is extracted. Apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca) can grow to a maximum height of thirteen meters. The fruits develop during early spring and are mostly harvested during early summer. These fruits are highly nutritious and have various health benefits.

Apricot Nutrition

Apples, bananas and oranges are the most common and popular fruits. Most of us tend to buy the same fruits, every time we visit the supermarket. There is a wide range of other fruits that can offer similar or higher nutrition, as compared to these fruits. One such fruit is apricot, which has a high nutritional value. This fruit is rich in most of the essential nutrients, especially, vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, calcium and potassium. An apricot with a weight of around 40 grams, amount to 17 calories and contain 4 grams carbohydrates, 0.5 grams protein, 3 grams sugar, 1 gram dietary fiber, no cholesterol and 1 gram fat. The vitamin A content is 914.20 IU and the amount of beta carotene is 544.95 mcg. It has 3 mcg folate and 1.2 mcg vitamin K. It has high levels of potassium, i.e. 104 mg and also contains 3 mg of magnesium and 7 mg phosphorous. Apart from the above mentioned nutrients, apricots have high levels of lycopene too.

Health Benefits

Apricots are available in both fresh and dried forms. While dried apricots are available throughout the year, fresh ones are seasonal. Both are nutritious and offer various health benefits. Dried apricot health benefits are said to be more as compared to the fresh form of this fruit. Unlike the fresh ones, the nutrients in dried apricots are concentrated. However, the dried ones are high in calories and may sometimes cause some reactions, due to the preservatives used in them. Mentioned below are the health benefits of eating apricots.

• Being rich in dietary fiber, apricots are often recommended for smooth bowel movements in people suffering from constipation. Apart from that, this fruit aids in digestion and for destroying intestinal worms.
• The high levels of beta carotene in apricots is beneficial for the health of eyes, especially, in preventing macular degeneration. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from many other health problems, like Alzheimer's disease.
• Apricots are rich in other antioxidants like vitamin C and lycopene. These antioxidants can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and heart diseases.
• They are also used for treating anemia. This is because of the high levels of some minerals like iron and copper, that help in the production of hemoglobin.
• Apricot health benefits include its use in relieving symptoms of diseases like asthma, tuberculosis and bronchitis.
• Apricot oil is found to be effective in skin care. Apart from making the skin shiny and smooth, apricot oil is also used in treating scabies and eczema. Apricot oil is also said to be good for ear pain.

So, enjoy this fruit, and at the same time, reap their health benefits. However, never indulge in overconsumption of this fruit, as it may sometimes cause stomach upset.