Dried Apricots


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Dried Apricots

Introduction

*The apricot is the fruit of the tree, Prunus armeniaca.

*Apricots are small, yellowish orange fruits with a red tinge on one side, and look very similar to peaches.

*The skin of the fruit is thin and velvety, flesh is yellowish orange, smooth and moderately sweet, with a musky flavor and a hard stone at the centre.

*Apricots are believed to have been originated in Central Asia and China.

*Dried apricots are seeded apricots dehdrated to remove the moisture.

*Commercially prepared dried apples are treated with sulphur to extend their shelf life and also to make them look brighter.

*Buying and storage: Select good quality dried apricots, unsulphured and organic if possible. Store in an airtight container or zip-lock bag at room temperature. Keep well for several week.

Is it raw?

Yes and No.
*Yes, unsulphured dried apricots are raw, but look dull orange or light brown in color.
*No, because dried apricots are sometimes treated with sulphur as a perservative, and they look very bright orange in color. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Dried apricots are low in calories, fat and sodium and high in carbohydrartes, dietary fiber and minerals.

2. Moderate source of magnesium. It helps in relieving fatigue, relaxing the muscles, nerves and blood vessels, thus relieving the symptoms of asthma, migraine headaches, tension and soreness in muscles etc.

3. Low sodium and high potassium help maintain normal blood pressure and reduces the risk of hypertension.

4. Moderate source of copper, which reduces the risk of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, enhances the activity of enzymes that are needed to maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, ligaments and joints.

5. Moderate source of manganese, which is an essential cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body, especially in the production of energy and antioxidants defenses.

6. Moderate source of minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc and selenium, which play a very important role in maintaining proper metabolic activities of the body.

7. Moderate but significant amounts of B-group vitamins like thiamine, riboflavine, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folic acid that are essential for the body.

8. Good source of dietary fiber. It adds roughage to the contents of the intestines, promotes satiety, promotes the health of the colon, and also helps in relieving constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disorders, etc.

9. Apricots have a mild laxative property and so are also used to relieve constipation.

10. Apricots eaten before meals aid digestion.

Nutritional Information per Serving:

Serving Size	100 g of dried Apricots

% Daily Requirements

Total Calories	241	12%
Calories from fat	4.3

Total fat	0.5 g	1%
Saturated fat	0 g	0%
Trans fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 g	0%

Total carbohydrate	63 g	21%
Dietary fiber	7.3 g	29%
Sugars	53.4 g


Protein	3.4 g	7%

Minerals

Calcium	61 mg	6%
Iron	6.3 mg	35%
Magnesium	63 mg	16%
Phosphorus	157 mg	16%
Potassium	1850 mg	53%
Sodium	13 mg	1%
Zinc	1 mg	7%
Copper	0.6 mg	29%
Manganese	0.4 mg	18%

Vitamins

Riboflavin	0.1 mg	5%
Niacin	3.6 mg	18%
Vitamin B6	0.5 mg	26%
Folic acid	10 mcg	2%
Vitamin A	3604 IU	72%
Vitamin C	9.5 mg	16%
Vitamin E	4.3 mg	22%
Vitamin K	3.1 mcg	4%

Other Related Resources

Raisins: Raisins are ‘dried grapes', the fruits of the plant, Vitus vinifera.

Dried Prunes: Prunes are dried fruits of various varieties of plums, especially the European plum, Prunus domestica.

Dried Pears: Pears are the edible pomaceous fruits of many species of the genus, Pyrus, in the rose family and closely related to the apple tree.

Dried Peaches: Dried peaches are peeled, stoned peaches, then sliced or halved and dried.

Dried Figs: Botanically, they are inflorescence or false fruits or multiple fruits, and not real fruits. The the actual flowers are seen only when the fig is cut open.

Dried Dates: Dried dates are mature fully ripened dates that are sun dried.

Dried Cranberries: Cranberries are small, shiny, and pale to dark pink fruits, botanically berries, with a very tart or acidic taste. These are closely related to blueberries.

Dried Bananas: Banana fruit is the fruit of the plant Musa paradisiaca or Musa acuminata, believed to have been originated in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Dried Apricots: Commercially prepared dried apples are treated with sulphur to extend their shelf life and also to make them look brighter.

Dried Apples: The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the tree, Malus domestica, a member of the rose family Rosaceae, believed to have been originated in Asia.