Benefits of Apricots

Aside from the many health benefits of the apricot, it is also a wonderful diet food, providing a large amount of healthful nutrition to the body as well as keeping down caloric intake, as they are very low in calories as compared to other fruits (only about 50 calories for three apricots)!

Botanically, the fruit is closely related to peaches and nectarine, sharing with them in the broader Rosaceae family of fruit trees in the genus, Prunus. Scientific name: Prunus armenia.

Apricots are excellent sources of vitamin-A, and carotenes. They are an also good source of minerals such as potassium, iron, zinc, calcium and manganese. Potassium is a heart-healthy mineral; an important component of cell and body fluids that help regulate heart rate and blood pressure.

Apricots are a good source of fiber, which has a wealth of benefits including preventing constipation and digestive conditions such as diverticulosis. But most Americans get less than 10 grams of fiber per day. A healthy, whole foods diet should include apricots as a delicious way to add to your fiber intake.

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• Add sliced apricots to hot or cold cereal.
• The next time you make whole grain pancakes add some chopped apricots to the batter.

• Serve fresh apricots in your green salad when they are in season.

Avoid those with pale yellow color as they were picked too soon. Ripened apricots are delicate and should be handled with care. 

Store them in the refrigerator in an egg tray set at high relative humidity. Use them as early as possible.