The Surprising Health Benefits of Apricots and Apples
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If you’re looking to add some healthy fruits to your diet, there are plenty of great options out there.
Both apricots and apples are well-known for their nutritional benefits, but many people aren’t aware of just how powerful they can be when it comes to boosting health, improving digestion, reducing stress, and even preventing certain cancers.
As you’ll discover here, the combination of apples and apricots is especially effective at improving both physical and mental health.
Anti-cancer properties
Both apricots and apples contain a good amount of quercetin, a flavonoid that may help prevent cell damage linked to cancer development.
And while researchers have yet to identify whether or not eating them affects a person’s overall risk for cancer, most would agree that any foods that help fight disease are okay in our book.
Plus, apples are full of pectin which can improve digestion and apricots contain manganese, which helps with bone health These sweet snacks aren’t just tasty; they’re also great for your health!
Apricots and apples share a lot of benefits from their anti-cancer properties to their ability to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and aid weight loss efforts.
They’re also rich in antioxidants—such as beta-carotene (found in apricots) and polyphenols (found in apples)—that can guard against serious diseases like cancer and heart disease.
In fact, research suggests that both fruits may be able to reduce inflammation associated with chronic conditions like diabetes as well as high blood pressure.
Both fruits provide an excellent source of dietary fiber too so you stay fuller longer between meals.
And while they don’t contain many calories per serving, they are a good source of energy because they are low in fat and sugar.
Apricots and apples are great sources of vitamin C, which is important for our immune system. They also contain vitamin A, which helps protect our eyesight magnesium for healthy bones.
potassium for lowering blood pressure calcium for strong teeth and bones iron for transporting oxygen throughout our body copper to help fight infections riboflavin (vitamin B2) to help produce red blood cells.
Thiamine (vitamin B1) to convert food into energy we need every day the list goes onon! Apricots and apples provide a wide range of health benefits from boosting your immunity to improving your skin’s appearance, these fruits can make you feel better in more ways than one.
Apricot and apple peels have a lot of health benefits too: they’re packed with fiber which helps regulate digestion and they’re loaded with antioxidants that may reduce inflammation associated with chronic conditions like diabetes as well as high blood pressure Plus, their high water content makes them an excellent source of hydration too so you stay fuller longer between meals.
You can buy apricots fresh or dried—they both have plenty of nutrients but dried varieties tend to be higher in sugar because they're usually sweetened before being sold in stores.
Mood enhancers
In some cases, eating an apple or apricot can elevate your mood, giving you a bit more energy to get through your day Research shows that consuming more than one serving per day of any type of fruit (fresh dried or frozen) can lower your risk for depression.
So go ahead and toss a couple into your morning smoothie! You’ll feel better—and have more pep in your step—in no timetime If you want to find out how many servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended each day, check out our easy-to-use food pyramid.
It will tell you exactly what counts as one serving, so there’s no guesswork involved And it will also show you how much water you should be drinking every day To stay healthy and lose weight safely, aim for at least five servings of fruits and veggies daily
Weight loss boosters
Studies have shown that eating a diet rich in apples or apricots can help to boost weight loss, in addition to other health benefits They are loaded with antioxidants—which is one reason they’re linked to weight loss.
They’re also a great source of vitamins A C and K, so adding them to your daily fruit intake could have huge benefits If you’re looking for ways to kick-start your weight loss plan, consider adding more fruits like these two items into your meal plan today!
We all know how important it is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly when we want to lose weight While apple or apricot consumption won’t magically cause you to shed pounds overnight,
There are plenty of reasons why including these fruits in your meals will go a long way towards improving your overall wellbeing and boosting fat loss results at the same time.
The added antioxidants alone can really improve your overall health while allowing you to shed excess pounds at the same time It doesn't take much Just be sure that you're consuming at least 1/2 cup each day (more if possible).
You'll see an improvement in both body composition and overall well-being as soon as just weeks from nownow! Apricots, like apples, are high in fiber which makes them extremely filling.
Because they’re so rich in fiber, they have a tendency to make you feel fuller for longer than other fruits do—so they’re great for keeping hunger pangs away between meals.
Fiber has also been shown to help boost weight loss by preventing overeating by reducing hunger pangs and increasing feelings of fullness after eating [1].
This means that even though apricots have more calories than some other types of fruit (just 59 calories per half cup), eating them could actually help you eat less total calories over time—which could mean faster fat loss results for you!
Digestive aid
Apple pectin, a type of soluble fiber found in apples, can also help with gut health by reducing gas production. Pectin is commonly used to thicken jams, jellies, and marmalades.
When your gut microflora (the colonies of good bacteria that live inside your gastrointestinal tract) is balanced with probiotics—also found in apples—it can help prevent constipation.
Taking an apple a day really does keep these tummy troubles But it’s not just about regularity; apricots and apples are great for digestion because they are high in prebiotic fiber.
Prebiotic fibers act as food for healthy gut bacteria and promote better absorption of nutrients from foods like meat, fruits, and vegetables They do all that while simultaneously helping to lower cholesterol levels which reduces inflammation throughout your body.
They are so effective at lowering cholesterol levels, some people call them nature’s statins because they work so well at preventing cardiovascular disease.
Studies have shown that people who eat lots of prebiotic fibers from whole grains or fruits tend to have healthier hearts than those who don’t get enough daily prebiotic foods (source).
What's more? Prebiotic fibers may even play a role in weight loss One study showed that when overweight adults consumed prebiotic fiber supplements, they lost weight and reduced their waist circumference significantly compared to those who didn't take any supplements (source).
That’s right: if you want to lose weight without having to cut calories or go on an exercise program, just boost your intake of prebiotic fibers. While studies show that eating prebiotic fibers helps reduce obesity, researchers aren’t exactly sure how they work.
Some believe that prebiotics feed good bacteria in our guts and increase metabolism, thereby leading to weight loss (source).
Others say that eating prebiotic-rich foods leads to less caloric consumption overall because we feel fuller longer after consuming them (source). Either way, both apples and apricots are great sources of fiber and should be part of every meal.
Anti-ageing aid
There are three nutrients that work in synergy to produce a powerful anti-ageing effect: carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Carotenoids enhance our ability to make vitamin A from other sources in our diet; they also protect our cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin C contributes to collagen formation, allowing for healthy skin, teeth, gums, ligaments, cartilage and tendons. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which boosts immunity as well as slowing down cell ageing.
Two key foods containing these phytonutrients are apricots and apples – try eating some fresh apricots or apple slices each day! They’re both available all year round, so you can get your daily dose whenever you need it.
Antioxidants prevent ageing
The tiny molecule we call an antioxidant is much like a bouncer, ready to protect our cells from harmful free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules produced by processes like breathing or cell metabolism, or when your body produces toxins to kill germs.
In a sense, they’re good—but there are too many, and they bounce around at such high speeds that they do damage instead of good This damage can lead to diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Antioxidants latch onto free radicals, cutting them off before more damage is done Some evidence suggests eating foods rich in antioxidants may help reduce these diseases in addition to slowing down ageing itself.
Not sure where antioxidants are hiding Look no further than apricots and apples Both are great sources of vitamin C, which helps your body produce collagen, a protein that keeps skin firm and healthy
Vitamin C also strengthens blood vessels which means it might help prevent heart attacks and strokes as well as promote healthy skin.
Eating apricots or apples with their skins on will give you even more bang for your buck Vitamin A (also known as retinol) is another antioxidant found in both fruits.
Vitamin A protects against macular degeneration—the leading cause of blindness among older adults worldwide—and might also keep skin smooth and supple while reducing wrinkles.
Just make sure you eat some fat with those apples; studies show vitamin A needs fat to be absorbed properly into your system! While you're at it, sprinkle on some cinnamon.
Studies suggest adding cinnamon to meals could help control blood sugar levels after eating and decrease LDL cholesterol levels that's bad cholesterol, if you're not familiar with medical acronyms.
According to one study published in Diabetes Care , people who ate two grams of cinnamon daily lowered their LDL cholesterol by up to 10 percent over three months.
That's not bad for something so tasty Another study published in Diabetes Care showed people who added a half teaspoon of cinnamon per day had better insulin sensitivity after just two weeks compared to those who didn't add any cinnamon to their diet.
Strengthen bones
Eating plenty of apricots, apples, or dried apricots (dried apricot halves are a popular trail snack) is a good way to get vitamin C and dietary fiber.
In fact, research has shown that people who eat high-fiber diets (including fruits and vegetables like these) have higher levels of important antioxidants in their blood than those who don’t.
Dietary fiber also helps your body absorb calcium better, which can help you build strong bones. According to Harvard Medical School, women should aim for at least 25 grams of fiber per day—and men should shoot for 38 grams daily.
To put that into perspective, one medium apple contains 3 grams of fiber while an apricot contains 2 grams. The recommended daily intake for adults is 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams per day for men Women need more because they generally weigh less than men do.
Fiber helps keep your digestive system healthy by removing toxins from your body and reducing inflammation throughout your entire body. It also promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and decreasing plaque buildup in arteries, helping them stay flexible so blood can flow freely through them.
Treat heart disease
According to a study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, apricot polyphenols can help prevent heart disease by inhibiting an enzyme that plays a role in blood clotting.
Plus, consuming three or more servings per week may decrease your risk for stroke Almonds and apples both offer polyphenols as well, so it’s best to include all three nuts in your diet every day.
Or try making Baked Apricot Oatmeal with Toasted Almonds for breakfast on busy mornings. The recipe includes a few other healthy ingredients like steel-cut oats flaxseed meal and chia seeds.
The high fiber content will keep you full until lunchtime! And if you have time for a quick workout, take 10 minutes to do some pushups or bodyweight squats—or even just walk around your office. Any movement is better than none at all when it comes to weight loss.
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