10 Impressive Health Benefits of Apricot

Apricots are a very tasty fruit, but did you know they also have several health benefits too?

They can help treat indigestion, constipation, earaches, fever, skin problems and anemia. Apricots are also beneficial for heart health, and can help treat wounds and strained muscles.

You can eat apricots as they come, or dried and added to other dishes. They can also be made into juices, jams and jellies, and apricot oil is also obtained from the inedible kernel and used in a range of health preparations.

Apricots contain a lot of vitamins and other nutrients, including vitamins A, C, K, E, and niacin in significant amounts, and minerals like potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. They also contain a good amount of dietary fiber.

1. Help Relieve Constipation

As apricots are high in fiber, they are good for helping the digestive process along smoothly. Fiber stimulates the gastric and digestive juices that absorb nutrients and help break the food down for easier processing. Fiber also activates the motion of the digestive tract, and the smooth muscle movements are what keep your bowels regulated and help prevent constipation.

2. Can Strengthen Bones

Apricots contain calcium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, and copper – all of which are necessary for bone growth and development, as well as protecting against age-related bone conditions such as osteoporosis.

3. May Improve Heart Health

Apricots can protect your heart against the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. This is down to the high amount of vitamin C apricots contain, as well as potassium and dietary fiber.

Research from the Stanford University Medical Center shows that antioxidants like vitamin C can protect the heart from harmful free radicals. Potassium also lowers blood pressure, while fiber helps scrape excess cholesterol from the lining of the vessels and arteries.

4. Could Improve Metabolism

The large amount of potassium in apricots has been linked to maintaining fluid balance in the body, as well as ensuring that energy is distributed properly to the organs and muscles.

If you have a proper balance of electrolytes, you have more energy, reduce cramps, and keep blood pumping through the body as it needs it.

5. Relieves Ear Pain

Apricot oil is used to treat earaches, but it isn’t yet known why it’s effective, although scientists say that the antioxidants in apricot essential oil are probably responsible.

6. Can Reduce Fever

Apricot juice is often given to patients suffering from fever, because it gives vitamins, minerals, calories, and water to the body, while detoxifying the organs.

7. Anti-Inflammatory

Apricots have anti-inflammatory properties that can have an impact on the body’s overall temperature level when it is sick. It can also reduce inflammation in other conditions like arthritis or gout.

8. Treats Skin Disorders

Apricot oil is good for the skin. It’s quickly absorbed, and doesn’t make it oily after application. Apricots are also useful for treating skin conditions like eczema, itching, scabies and other irritations. This is also down to the antioxidants that apricots contain, especially vitamin A.

9. Treats Anemia

The iron and copper in apricots helps in the formation of hemoglobin when eaten, which helps with treating anemia. Iron is a key part of forming red blood cells, without which the body can’t reoxygenate itself and organs start to malfunction.

10. Can Relieve Asthma Symptoms

One study concludes that apricot oil is an anti-asthmatic, and helps provide relief from the symptoms of asthma. It can help to relieve pressure and stress on the lungs and respiratory system, which prevents asthma attacks before they start.