Dried Fruit Nutrition: Learn About The Top 5 Dried Fruits

With the growing awareness of the need to improve our diet and carefully observe the foods we eat and the foods we feed our family, it is worth educating ourselves on the nutrition of dried fruits. Dried fruit can be kept for long periods, it is easy to store, it is convenient to take as a snack and it can be quite inexpensive.

What exactly is dried fruit? Fruit with a large proportion of the water content removed. The fruit retains a high nutritional value. The drying process can be done naturally in the sun or artificially through hot dryers or food dehydrators. In addition to equipping a kitchen with a quality cookware set, many also invest in a quality stainless steel food dehydrator and process their fruits and nuts.

Dried Dried apricots

Dried apricots contain more nutritional value than freshly dried apricots simply because the nutrient content is so much higher. Dried apricots contain a high level of carotenes, good for reducing the risk of some types of cancer. This dried fruit is also a good source of vitamin C, silicon, iron, phosphorous, calcium, and potassium.

Dried apricots are rich in iron and therefore useful in the fight against anemia. They can also act as a mild laxative and help prevent constipation. They even help with digestion.

Dried Dates

Dry dates are packed with nutrients including phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin A, calcium, and potassium. They promote the existence of healthy bacteria in the intestines and can help alleviate the problem of constipation, acting as a mild laxative.

Dates are an excellent source of energy and can provide a quick boost of energy, as they are full of natural sugars. Dried dates have fewer calories than fresh dates and can, therefore, be included in a healthy snack for those who want to maintain a healthy weight.

Dried Figs

Dried figs are rich in potassium and therefore help control blood pressure. They are also an excellent source of fiber and can be incorporated into a weight management regimen.

Other minerals present in dried fig are manganese, iron, copper, potassium, calcium, zinc, and selenium. Both copper and iron are important in the production of red blood cells in the body.

Dried Plums - Prunes

Prunes contain vitamins A and C, chromium, potassium and iron, lutein, and fiber. In practical terms, they help with healthy bowel movements, contribute to healthy hair and skin, help maintain adequate blood sugar levels, provide energy, and lutein even helps prevent visual impairment.

And here's something of interest to all those trying to lose weight: prunes are an appetite suppressant! Why? Prunes can help reduce the rate at which food leaves the stomach, giving the feeling that it is full. This can help in the fight against overeating.

Motivation: Why Should I Bother You?

If a family has become accustomed to eating potato chips, candy bars, and the like, it will take considerable effort and mental change to break out of unhealthy eating habits. However, thinking about the result can be a powerful motivation. Dried fruit has a high nutritional content and, when combined with dried walnuts, can provide a very healthy snack.

As with anything, it can take time to adjust. If a person had a habit of putting sugar in tea or coffee and then decides to go sugar-free, these drinks will taste unpleasant at first. However, if the person persists for a few weeks, the senses of taste change and they become accustomed to sugar-free drinks. After a while, when that same person is mistakenly given a cup of tea or coffee with sugar, they almost spit it out as a reflex action because it tastes so sweet!

So give yourself or your family time to adjust their taste senses to your new healthy eating habits. You will pay rich dividends for a higher level of health, energy, and a feeling of well-being.