Pears have a long history and evidence suggests that they were cultivated in Western Asia as far back as three thousand years ago. In modern times, pears are cultivated mainly in China, the USA, and Italy, and advances in cultivation techniques mean that today’s varieties of pears are tastier and more nutritious than ever. The very high level of pear nutrition in modern fruit gives you the ideal way to add fiber, vitamins, and important nutrients to your diet.

One important component of pears is the high levels of fiber found in the fruit. As well as ensuring regular bowel movements, fiber is a very important part of the human diet as it helps to control the absorption of digested fats and glucose into the bloodstream. A diet with sufficient fiber can help to prevent high levels of blood cholesterol and symptoms of irregular blood sugar levels.

Sufficient levels of fiber in the diet can also help to prevent colon cancer. Fiber binds itself to damaging cancer causing toxins found in the intestines and helps to flush them out, which stops them damaging the colon cells. Pears are also associated with high levels of vitamin C and copper, and low levels of copper in the diet are another risk factor for colon cancer. Pears contain 9.5% of the recommended daily copper allowance.

One pear a day can contribute 11.1% of your recommended daily vitamin C allowance. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that helps to protect the body from free radical damage. This essential vitamin helps to keep the immune system in good shape, which stops us catching colds and other nasty virus infections. Copper is also an antioxidant that helps to protect the body from free radical damage. Since the majority of vitamin C in pears is found in the skin, it is important to consume the fruit with the skin intact.

Another vital component of pear nutrition is the high levels of vitamin K found in the fruit. Vitamin K is known to help prevent and treat osteoporosis, and anyone with a family history of this disease needs to maintain healthy levels of vitamin K. Vitamin K can also help to protect against heart disease by preventing hardening of the arteries, which is a major contributory factor. It also aids the body’s blood clotting mechanism.

Although pears are sodium free, they do contain around 190 mg of potassium. Increasing the levels of potassium in the diet can help to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure. Potassium rich foods are also known to counteract the damage caused by sodium in the diet. Also, be sure and don't forgot the fantastic juicing benefits that are a great source of nutrients in almost all fruit.

All this pear nutrition makes pears an essential part of a healthy diet, so make you sure you add this tasty fruit to your dinner table!