All food contains all of the nutrients we need to be healthy, it is necessary to eat various foods in sufficient amounts. A good diet will include many different foods, and sufficient in quantity and quality to meet an individual’s need for food energy and other micro nutrients.

Sauces

Seaweed

Shellfish

Soft Drinks

Soy

APRICOTS

Typical serving size:

3 medium apricots (4 oz or 114 g), or ¼ cup, dried (1
2 oz or 35 g)

HOW THEY HARM

Allergies

Cavities

Cyanide poisoning

WHAT THEY HEAL

Cancer

High cholesterol

High blood pressure

Nerves and muscles

Eyes

APRICOT FACT

Although eating fresh apricots is a way to get the most vitamin C (which is depleted by exposure to heat and air when apricots are dried), other substances, like beta-carotene and pectin, are actually made more available to the body when apricots are cooked
Rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, apricots are tasty, easy to digest, low in calories (about 50 calories in three fresh apricots and 85 in 10 dried halves), virtually fat free, and highly nutritious
One-half cup (83 g) of sliced apricots contains just 40 calories

Health Benefits

Prevents cancer
Apricots’ deep color indicates the presence of carotenoids, specifically the antioxidant beta-carotene, which are linked with cancer prevention
Lowers LDL cholesterol
Apricots contain the soluble fiber pectin, which helps lower LDL cholesterol
Eases high blood pressure
Apricots are a particularly good source of potassium
They also have lots of fiber, iron, and beta-carotene
The drying process actually increases the concentration of these nutrients, all of which are good for your circulatory system
Helps nerves and muscles
Regardless of form, apricots are high in iron and potassium, a mineral essential for proper nerve and muscle function that also helps maintain normal blood pressure and balance of body fluids
Staves off eye diseases
The beta-carotene in apricots may help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration
Some studies suggest that consuming high levels of vitamin A may reduce the risk of developing cataracts by up to 40%

Health Risks

Allergic reactions
Sulfite preservatives in some dried apricots can trigger an allergic reaction or asthma attack in people susceptible to these disorders
Also, a natural salicylate in apricots may trigger an allergic reaction in aspirin-sensitive people
Cavities
Dried apricots leave a sticky residue on teeth that can lead to cavities
Cyanide poisoning
Doctors warn that apricot pits in any form should not be ingested
They contain relatively large amounts of amygdalin, a type of carbohydrate that reacts with digestive enzymes to produce hydrogen cyanide
It’s unlikely, though, that anyone would be being able to crack and eat very many apricot seeds

Allergies

Dollop whipped goat cheese into pitted halves and sprinkle with fresh basil for an elegant appetizer

Mix chopped apricots, sweet onion, and mustard for a turkey sandwich condiment

Stir nutritious chopped dried apricots into a batch of oatmeal cookies

Buying Tips

Look for plump apricots with as much golden orange color as possible

Stay clear of fruit that is pale yellow, greenish yellow, very firm, shriveled, or bruised

Slightly soft apricots have the best flavor, but they must be eaten immediately

Steer clear of apricots that have been treated with sulfites
They will be brown, not orange

Storing Tips

Apricots will ripen at room temperature

To help them ripen, place them in a paper bag with an apple

When they yield to gentle pressure, they are ready to eat

Refrigerate ripe apricots, unwashed, in a paper or plastic bag up to 2 days