The use of apricot dates back thousands of years. This fruit is available all over the world and it is available in raw, dry, jam and… they consume In this text, we would like to write about the properties of dried apricots, how to prepare them and their uses, stay with us:
Apricot is one of the fruits known for its pleasant taste and beautiful color, this fruit also has many properties that increase its nutritional value. With a long and long list of nutrients, apricot is considered one of the most nutritious fruits that people consume, not to mention that apricot seeds also have the same properties.
What is an apricot
Apricot, with the scientific name Prunus Armeniaca and the English name Apricot, is a plant from the rose family and the consumption group of tonics and laxatives. Basically, apricot is a tree whose height reaches 8 to 12 meters, its trunk grows up to 40 cm, and it has yellow-green, heart-shaped and pointed leaves. The reddish white flowers of the plant are large and solitary.
Its fruit is golden in color, fleshy, relatively small, round and has a hard core in the middle. The core of the plant is brown, smooth and oval, inside which is a sweet and sometimes bitter kernel. This plant is native to Far Asia, especially China. Today, America, Russia, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Greece and France are major producers of this product in the world.
In our country, this fruit is planted in some places, although recently it is cultivated in most of the western provinces of the country, which are mountainous. In the middle of summer, ripe apricots are picked and stored in special containers in a cool place. Fresh apricots can be stored in the refrigerator in vegetable bags for a week.
Apricot properties
Apricots and dried apricots have many properties, in the following we will try to write examples of the properties of dried apricots for you:
Dried apricots are a good source of vitamin A
Apricots are full of vitamin A, which is known as retinol in this fruit. This substance is soluble in fat and is one of the things that helps to strengthen vision. This vitamin also keeps the immune system under control and protects your skin in various processes.
Retinol and beta-carotene, two compounds that are present in large amounts in this fruit, also reduce the risk of serious eye disorders called Neovascular ARMD, which is an age-related macular degeneration that causes vision loss. They reduce very high.
Vitamin A is very important for eye health. In particular, vitamin A helps the body to make the pigments needed by the retina to work properly. Without this vitamin, people are at risk of night blindness. Vitamin A also helps the eye to produce the necessary moisture for vision. Some studies have shown that vitamin A plays an important role in the immune system with its anti-inflammatory effect.
Dried apricots are rich in fiber
Whether you eat apricots dry or fresh, they are a good source of dietary fibers. Considering that the retinol in apricot is fat-soluble, the fruit is easily dissolved in the body and important nutrients are easily absorbed by the body system. This fruit breaks down fatty acids quickly, which means that it improves one’s digestion and cleanses the intestines regularly. Complete bowel cleansing protects the digestive system from various disorders.
Every 35 grams of raw apricot contains 0.7 grams of dietary fiber. According to some research, people in the United States get about 16 grams of 25 to 38 grams of fiber each day. The presence of fiber is vital for the body, because it helps the body to regulate blood sugar levels. It also improves food digestion, which ultimately prevents constipation and ensures the overall health of the digestive system.
Dried apricots are good for the heart
Considering that the apricot fruit contains a lot of fiber, it helps to lower the bad cholesterol in the body, and this means that it protects the heart from diseases, at the same time, the consumption of this fruit also increases the good cholesterol. ten. In addition, the potassium content in the fruit balances the electrolyte level in the body system and keeps the heart muscles regular.
Apart from the above, apricots contain large amounts of vitamin C and lycopene, which prevent heart attacks by lowering the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, therefore; According to researchers, by consuming apricots daily, you can reduce the risk of heart attack and cardiovascular diseases.
Dried apricots are a rich source of antioxidants
Ripe apricots are natural sources of antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E. Additionally, these vitamins belong to a group of polyphenol antioxidants called flavonoids that have been shown to protect the body against diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.
The main flavonoids in apricots are chlorogenic acids, catechins and quercetin. These compounds work to neutralize the effects of free radicals, radicals are harmful compounds that damage your cells and cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is associated with obesity and many chronic diseases such as heart disease. If this fruit is consumed daily, it will help the body to get rid of the toxins that accumulate in the body over time.
Dried apricots are good for blood
Any plant product that contains iron has non-heme iron, and this can be seen in apricots as well. This type of iron needs a lot of time to be absorbed in the body, and the longer it remains in the blood system, the greater the chance of a person to prevent anemia. It is recommended to take some vitamin C along with it to ensure better absorption of non-heme iron.
Apart from iron, apricot is also a rich source of copper, you probably know that copper plays an important role in blood formation and increasing blood flow, consumption of apricot fruit also helps to treat anemia and anemia.
Dried apricots help skin health
The combination of vitamins C, A and plant nutrients provides the skin with the necessary nutrients. It is also good to know that the antioxidants in apricot slow down the aging process. The high amounts of vitamins C and A in apricots and apricot oil have anti-inflammatory properties and help treat acne and pimples.
Also, due to the high content of essential fatty acids and vitamin A contained in apricot, the oils present in it hydrate the skin and treat dry skin as a moisturizer. The moisture that the skin gets from these oils reduces skin wrinkles at the same time. Massaging the skin with apricot oil makes the skin flexible and maintains its elasticity, which ultimately helps to rejuvenate the skin.
Dried apricots are a good option for diets
Dietary fibers in apricot fruit improve the digestive system. It is clear that easy digestion helps to increase metabolism and it is often recommended to eat a few apricots as a snack when you feel hungry, especially if you are dieting.
Consuming apricots fills your stomach but does not add unnecessary calories to your body. However, remember to wash your mouth after eating dried apricots. Dried fruits contain more sugar and you definitely don’t want this to affect your dental health.
Dried apricots help strengthen bones
Calcium is very necessary in the formation and growth of bones, and apricot has a large amount of this item in its ingredients. The interesting thing to note is that without sufficient potassium in the body, calcium cannot be absorbed and excreted evenly, and the good news is that apricot has both of these!
As we said, apricots are rich in calcium compounds and calcium is vital for the formation, repair and development of bones, and the presence of the necessary amount of calcium prevents osteoporosis.
Dried apricots prevent cancer
Apricots are rich in antioxidants, antioxidants protect our body from the activity and effects of free radicals, and the high amounts of vitamins A and C in apricots strengthen the immune system and prevent various types of cancer. does
Dried apricot helps with women’s problems and increases breast milk
Qaisi leaf with the same dry apricot has unique compounds that can help in the treatment of infertility, postpartum bleeding, spasm during pregnancy and treatment of vaginal infection, it is also recommended to breastfeeding mothers due to the presence of useful compounds in the apricot leaf. Use dried fruit, this fruit increases breast milk in nursing mothers.
Different uses of apricots
Apricot fruit can be used in the following ways:
fresh fruit
Apricot fresh fruit is one of the best fruits to satisfy hunger, the good taste and unique aroma of this fruit keeps one away from snacking. Fresh apricot fruit is used to prepare jam, marmalade, juice, extract, compote, sauce and cosmetic creams.
Apricot dried fruit
Apricots are cut into pieces after being completely washed and dried with different methods. Apricot dried fruit is one of the most nutritious and useful snacks, which has many properties such as strengthening eyesight, helping bone endurance, preventing cancer, helping It helps to lose weight and solve pregnancy problems.
How to prepare dried apricots
Try not to use very ripe and crushed fruits to prepare dried apricots, choose apricots that are ripe and at the same time have a firm texture. After that, first wash the apricots well and let them drain completely, then cut the apricots in half and remove the core.
After separating the kernels, put them in a large clean container or spread it in a basket and place it in the sun for two days. Every few hours, turn the apricots upside down until their juice is completely dry. After about two to three days, you can remove the apricots from the sun and then dry them in the shade.
Information and medicinal compounds of apricot
Apricot contains potassium, carotene and iron. 100 grams (3 medium ones) of apricots produce 48 calories of energy and contain 1.4 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of fat and 11.1 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber and 9.2 grams of simple sugars such as sucrose, glucose and fructose, 0.4 milligrams of iron, 259 mg of potassium.
Apricot leaves with the same weight of 100 grams produce 5 times as much energy as fresh apricots (241 calories) and 7 times more sugar.
Apricot parts used
The used parts of the apricot tree are its fruit in fresh, dried and processed form.
Use of apricot in traditional medicine
For apricot fruit, cold and moist nature is considered, while the nature of the core of this fruit is warm and dry. In traditional medicine, this fruit has been used for general weakness, indigestion, muscle weakness, and constipation. In the new medical science, they have confirmed the prevention of the breakdown of muscle cells, the prevention of heart disease and the prevention of some cancers.
Harms of excessive use of apricots
Apricot consumption is not prohibited in normal conditions, of course, people who have asthma should not use Qaisi leaves (dried apricots). Also, people who are prone to kidney stones should use this fruit with caution and should not eat too much apricot. Consuming this fruit in the recommended amounts is not associated with any complications, but excessive consumption of this fruit causes a feeling of heaviness and fullness in the stomach.
Key and important points about apricots
- The red, yellow and orange colors of apricots are due to the amount of carotenes in this fruit.
- Apricot is also known as Armenian plum.
- In Azerbaijani Turkish, apricot is called “Erik”.
- Apricot is one of the anti-flatulent fruits.
- The combination mask of apricot and honey makes the skin soft and smooth.
Apricot nutritional value table
Apricots consist of macronutrients and micronutrients according to the tables below, which make up its nutritional value.
The main ingredient in 100 grams
- Energy (calories) 48 kcal
- Carbohydrate 11.12 grams
- Protein 1.40 grams
- Fat 0.39 grams
- 86.35 grams of water
- Fiber 2.00 grams
- Sugar 9.24 grams
- Cholesterol 0.00 mg
Apricot vitamins
Vitamin name, amount per 100 grams
- Vitamin A 96.00 micrograms
- Vitamin D 0.00 mcg
- Vitamin E 0.89 mg
- Vitamin K 3.30 micrograms
- Vitamin C 10.00 mg
- Thiamine (B1) 0.03 mg
- Riboflavin (B2) 0.04 mg
- Niacin (B3) 0.60 mg
- Choline (B4) 2.80 mg
- Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.24 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.05 mg
- Folate (B9) 9.00 micrograms
- Vitamin B12 0.00 mg
Apricot minerals
The name of the mineral, the amount per 100 grams
- Calcium 13.00 mg
- Iron 0.39 mg
- Magnesium 10.00 mg
- Phosphorus 23.00 mg
- Potassium 259.00 mg
- Sodium 1.00 mg
- Zinc 0.20 mg
- Copper 0.08 mg
- Manganese 0.08 mg
- Selenium 0.10 micrograms