Apricots have a sweet and refreshing taste, so some people prefer to eat them directly so that this flavor is maintained. But to make it more varied, not a few people also process apricots into juice, fruit salad, or as a cereal mixture.
Apricots may still seem foreign to Indonesian society. In fact, the benefits of apricots for health are not small. Despite their small size, apricots store many nutrients that can maintain the health of a number of important organs in the body and prevent various serious diseases.
Behind the delicious taste, apricots contain many nutrients that are important for the body.
Kinds of Nutrients in Apricots
Not only that, but apricots are low in calories and do not contain saturated fat, they also contain lots of water and are enriched with various antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin B, folate, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Various Benefits of Apricots that You Can Get
Because the nutritional content is quite diverse, there are a number of benefits that you can get from eating apricots. Some of the health benefits of apricots are:
1. Maintain intestinal health
The fiber contained in apricots is one of the nutrients that plays a major role in intestinal health. Fiber makes the intestines work better in absorbing nutrients and helps the good bacteria in the intestine to reproduce. The fiber contained in fruits and vegetables can also treat and prevent constipation.
In addition, the high antioxidant content in apricots is also beneficial for maintaining the health of the digestive tract and preventing inflammation and damage.
2. Maintain body sugar and cholesterol levels
The benefits of fiber contained in apricots are not only for gut health. This fruit fiber also functions to keep sugar and cholesterol levels in the body normal, so that the risk of developing diabetes and high cholesterol is reduced.
In addition, apricots are also fruits that have a low glycemic index. Several studies show that people who regularly eat healthy foods by increasing their intake of fruits and vegetables, including apricots, appear to have lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, when compared to people whose diets are unhealthy.
3. Maintain heart health
Apricots are rich in fiber and antioxidants that can prevent the formation of hardening and plaque clogging in blood vessels. This effect is also supported by the benefits of apricots which can reduce cholesterol levels in the body. The high potassium content in apricots can also prevent high blood pressure.
Therefore, apricots are included in fruits that are good for consumption to maintain heart health.
4. Prevent dehydration
Apricots which contain lots of water are good for consumption to prevent dehydration. When the body is dehydrated or dehydrated, complaints will appear in the form of weakness, dizziness, headaches, and thirst.
Even so, even though apricots contain lots of water, body fluid intake still needs to be fulfilled by drinking enough water, which is at least 8 glasses a day.
5. Maintain eye health
Apart from carrots, you can also maintain the health of your eyes by eating apricots. The content of vitamin A in apricots is high, which is about 95 micrograms per 100 grams of apricots. This amount has met almost 20% of your daily vitamin A needs.
Apart from vitamin A, another nutrient contained in apricots that is beneficial for maintaining eye health is vitamin E. In the eyes, vitamin E acts as an antioxidant that protects the eyes from exposure to free radicals that can cause various vision problems.
6. Make the skin more attractive
Are you often exposed to sunlight, pollution, and cigarette smoke while on the move? Be careful, because that’s the cause of wrinkles and damaged skin, you know! Some studies have even found some evidence that exposure to UV rays can increase the risk of skin cancer.
To prevent this, let’s eat apricots frequently. Vitamin C contained in apricots will protect you from the dangers of excessive sun exposure and reduce the effects of free radicals that can damage your skin.
Vitamin C also helps your body produce collagen which functions to maintain skin strength and flexibility. In addition to the above benefits, consuming apricots is also believed to reduce the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and liver damage.
Before eating apricots, make sure you have washed them thoroughly. Otherwise, the bacteria that may remain on the fruit can cause an infection when they enter your body.
You also need to accompany the consumption of apricots with other nutritious foods and adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly, not smoking, and avoiding drinking alcoholic beverages.
