Apricots (botanical name – Prunus armeniaca) are small drupes (meaning that the fruit covers a hard seed that in turn contains a seed kernel) which resemble and are closely related to plums or peaches.
They originally came from China and then made their way into the Persian Empire (one of the world’s first empires to emerge in the ancient Middle East) and onto the Mediterranean.
In the present day, countries like Turkey, Russia, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France are considered to be the leading producers of apricots. In the United States, these fruits are grown primarily in California.
They are super versatile and can be consumed raw or used in cooking and baking, making them an excellent way to give your diet a healthy upgrade. They can also be consumed as a juice.
Nutrition Facts
1 can contains:
- 117 calories;
- 1.5g protein;
- 3.9g dietary fiber;
-
Vitamin A – 3304 IU (66%);
- Vitamin B1 – 0.1 mg (4%);
- Vitamin B6 – 0.1 mg (9.4%);
- Vitamin B2 – 0.1 mg (3.3%);
- Vitamin B5 – 0.2 mg (3.7%);
- Vitamin B3 – 0.8 mg (5.2%);
- Vitamin E – 1.5 mg (12.2%);
- Vitamin C – 12.0 mg (14.9%);
- Copper – 0.1 mg (13.2%);
- Calcium – 29.3 mg (2.9%);
- Zinc – 0.3 mg (3.8%);
- Iron – 0.7 mg (4.9%);
- Selenium – 0.1 mg (0.8%);
- Magnesium – 24.4 mg (8.1%);
- Potassium – 402.6 mg (20.1%);
- Phosphorus – 48.8 mg (7.0%);
- Manganese – 0.1 mg (6.3%).
Health Benefits of Apricot Juice
Remedy For Constipation
This juice is a good source of soluble fiber, a type of fiber that dissolves quickly in the body and melts into a gel-like substance.
The soluble fiber breaks down the fatty acids fast – and this enhances digestion. In addition, fiber promotes healthy bowel movement since it adds bulk to the stools.
Furthermore, dietary fiber activates the peristaltic motion (relaxation of circular smooth muscles) of the digestive tract, and these muscle movements are what keep bowel movements regulated.
The soluble fibers present in apricot juice not only help in bowel movement but also help in balancing metabolism in the human body.
1 can of this juice supplies 3.9g of dietary fiber toward your daily requirement.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. This is important since the damage caused by free radicals can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke, however, ensuring you consume sufficient vitamin C can be protective against this.
Adequate vitamin C intake also helps the body create and maintain collagen, the main protein found in skin and hair.
Additionally, vitamin C slows down the aging process, replacing dead cells with newer skin cells at a faster rate as well as it reduces the risk of osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and the common cold.
A Good Source of Carotenoids
These fruits are especially high in carotenoids such as beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, and gamma-carotene, according to one study that was issued in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
A regular diet rich in carotenoids has been strongly associated with a reduction in heart disease in humans. Also, carotenoids help protect the retina of the eye from damage caused by blue light as well as they may slow the progression of Stargardt’s disease (an inherited eye condition that affects a tiny part of the retina).
Moreover, carotenoids may be important in neurological functioning. Also, they promote healthy vision, may help treat acne and skin problems, and maintain bone strength.
1 can of this juice supplies 3304 IU of vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), which is around 66 percent of your DV.
Potassium
Dietary potassium is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure, therefore, it prevents heart attacks.
In conjunction with sodium, this essential mineral regulates the balance of extracellular and intracellular water levels.
The insufficient intake of potassium is linked with an increased risk of high blood pressure, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, tingles and numbness, muscle aches and stiffness, and fatigue.
The average adult should get around 4.7 grams of potassium a day.
1 can of this juice supplies 402.6 mg of potassium which is around 8 percent of your DV.
Iron Anemia Prevention
Iron is an essential nutrient for the growth of the human body. For example, iron is known as an active participant when it comes to synthesizing neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
This juice helps in the treatment of iron anemia due to the presence of a good level of iron in it, which plays an important role in the formation of blood.
Iron anemia causes weakness, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue that doesn’t allow you to do anything enthusiastically.
An estimated 33 percent of women who are pregnant become iron deficient, which can have negative impacts on the development of the baby.
1 can of this juice supplies 0.7 mg of iron, which is about 4.9% of your daily recommended intake.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is one of the vitamins which belong to the B-complex family.
Pyridoxine helps with liver detoxification, red blood cell production, and the development of the brain and nervous system. Due to its role in cell replication, pyridoxine is vital to a healthy pregnancy.
A pyridoxine deficiency is almost always due to a long-term condition that inhibits the metabolism of this vitamin rather than insufficient dietary intake.
In addition, a few medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-tuberculosis drugs, and oral contraceptives, may interfere with pyridoxine metabolism.
1 can of this juice supplies 0.1 mg of vitamin B6, which is approximately 9.4% of your daily recommended intake.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient that is found in many foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant. This means it protects the body tissue from damage caused by free radicals, substances that can harm tissues, cells, and organs.
Vitamin E may also:
- prevent some diabetes-related damage, especially to the eyes;
- relieve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease;
- have preventive effects against cancer;
- protect against oxidative damage, which can lead to heart disease;
- have a positive effect on immune health.
There is also some evidence that this vitamin can tackle poor nails too, helping them grow straighter and stronger, according to a 2016 review that was issued in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal.
Moreover, vitamin E is involved in the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances which regulate numerous body processes, including reproduction, blood pressure, and muscle contraction.
1 can of this juice supplies 1.5 mg of vitamin E, which is approximately 12.2 percent of your daily recommended intake.
Side Effects
There are no known specifically proven side effects.
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References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28363725 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pan.13177 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(17)30116-9/fulltext