5 Health Benefits of Dried Fruit

Nutritionists tell us that we require 5 servings of fruit daily for a healthy diet. This recommendation is based on fresh fruit, which at times may difficult to get. However, the health benefits of dried fruit can offer just as much goodness if not more than fresh fruit.

Dried fruit is made by removing most of the water in a fruit either naturally by sun drying or artificially by use of dehydrators. Depending on the fruit, the amount of water retained is normally 5 to 10 %. Some of the fruits normally dried include grapes, apples, cherries, mangoes, pineapples and blueberries.

Health benefits of dried fruit

They are rich in vitamins - Just like their fresh counterparts, dried fruits are packed with vitamins. With most of the water gone, these important nutrients are concentrated and hence a smaller quantity will provide with the daily recommended allowance. The most known vitamin found in fruits are Vitamin C which is important for improved immunity and wound healing and vitamin B12 which helps in formation of the red blood cells.

Rich in antioxidants - This is another important health benefit of dried fruit. They have been found to contain powerful antioxidants such as lycopene, pectin and anthocyanin which are extremely effective in preventing cancer.

Rich in fiber - Dried fruits are rich in fiber which is very important in promoting regular bowel movement and hence reducing chances of one suffering from constipation. In addition the fiber absorbs water in the stomach giving a feeling of fullness, an advantage for those under weight loss programs.

They contain good sugars - Many of us crave sweet things at one time or another and normally reach out for chocolates and pastries. Dried fruits are a great alternative as a sweet snack. They are loaded with fructose or fruit sugar which is natural and low in calories. They are ideal as snacks for all and especially weight watchers.

Another of the great health benefits of dried fruit is that they are rich in carbohydrates which provide the body with energy. They can give one an energy boost in the middle of the day at work or can also be used by sportspeople to raise their energy levels.

The health benefits of dried fruit are numerous and each one of us should strive to include them in our diet. They are easy to carry around and can be used as a mid morning or mid afternoon snack. They can also be sprinkled on your breakfast cereal to make it more nutritious. Still another way of consuming dried fruits is stirring them into your yoghurt. If you want to be extremely health smart look for organic dried fruits which are not preserved with chemicals.

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