4 Amazing Health Benefits of Apricots

If you’ve ever walked leisurely through the produce aisles in a grocery store, you may have chanced upon a golden-orange colored peach-like fruit. Apricots are the underdogs of nutritious fruits and with velvety skin and smooth, sweet taste, they are also delicious. And if you’re still skeptical about adding them to your shopping cart, we’ve listed out a few health benefits that might change your mind.

# Promotes Heart Health

Consuming apricots regularly can keep your heart healthy. Studies have found that beta-carotene, which acts as an antioxidant, prevents LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) from oxidizing, a process in which LDL cholesterol particles in the body react with free radicals (unstable molecules that are products of metabolism, a disease, or exposure to toxins). Since LDL oxidation is the first step to heart disease, having apricots regularly can help keep heart disorders at bay. Besides reducing oxidative stress, beta-carotene also lowers inflammation, which is also vital in preventing cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease.

# Maintains Gastrointestinal Health

If you tend to suffer from gastrointestinal conditions, include apricots in your diet. Research has found that the fruits can help you fight off the following disorders:

Constipation

Apricots pack in 3.1 g of fiber per cup. This allows more water to remain in your stool and make it softer, larger, and thus, easier to pass through your intestines. Most at-home constipation treatments for children include consuming apricots or apricot juice (albeit, with pulp).

Atrophic Gastritis

This condition is caused due to chronic inflammation of the stomach mucous membrane (mucosa) and causes unusual weight loss, vomiting, appetite loss, nausea, iron-deficiency anemia, pain in the stomach, and ulcers. A recent study has found that daily consumption of 3 Japanese apricots inhibits inflammation of the mucosa and fights chronic atrophic gastritis.

Gastric Cancer

Stomach cancer is caused due to a growth of cancerous cells within the stomach lining. A few studies have found that the fruit juice concentrate of Japanese apricots may suppress the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach. However, further research is required to further validate and understand this finding.

# Promotes Bone Health

Apricots contain calcium, phosphorous, and iron. They also contain trace amounts of manganese and copper, 0.03 mg per piece to be precise. These minerals contribute to the growth and development of bones and prevent the occurrence of bone disorders including bone fractures, arthritis, and osteoporosis.

# Protects Vision

Including apricots in your diet can help you maintain good eyesight and stave off age-related vision deterioration. Studies have found that consuming beta-carotene along with vitamin C, zinc, and copper can prevent age-related advanced macular degeneration. In addition to this, lutein and zeaxanthin in apricots reduce damage caused to the retina due to the dreaded blue light that we gaze into as we look into our phones, watch television, or work on our laptops. This ensures better color and all-around vision well into old age.