The apricot is the summer fruit par excellence and one of the very symbols of this hot season; friend of the sun, the apricot practically works as a perfect kit to face the heat and the sun’s rays in the hottest months of the year.
Yellow, The Color Of Health
Which ranges from pale yellow to fiery orange, tending to orange and recalling the many shades of the sun – is due to the high quantities of beta-carotene, a substance belonging to the carotenoid family. In the summer months, it is the best that can happen to us because carotenoids are essential for the care of epithelial tissue and for fighting skin oxidation.
Our body converts carotene into vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for numerous functions of the organism, contributing: to normal iron metabolism, skin maintenance, safeguarding eyesight, and protecting the immune system. In general, beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that is absorbed with fats and, if taken with food, does not cause overdose, as can instead occur in the case of excessive use of supplements.
It is no coincidence that nature has made apricots available in June, July, and August; they are the hottest of the year and those in which the nutritional principles of this fruit are most needed. And respecting the seasonality of the products guarantees safety, authenticity, respect for the environment, and, why not, considerable cost savings. In short, we never tire of repeating it. From all viewpoints, summer is the ideal season for apricot feasts.
A Natural Tonic
A mine of calcium, potassium, carotene, vitamins, proteins, and sugars, the apricot is considered by nutritionists to be the ideal tonic and energy booster, so much so that it is also recommended for those with anemia or chronic fatigue, children, and older people and convalescents. Apricots have low calories, the many fibers give the body a high satiety index, and the fruit has laxative properties, favored by a sugar called sorbitol. In short, the apricot wins the title of perfect summer snack and misses a touch of color for a frugal meal. If at the beach, much better.
The Nutritional Values Of Apricot
Even when tested by numbers, our apricot comes out without a wrinkle. Judge for yourself: for 100 edible grams, there are 86.3 of water, 6.8 carbohydrates, and 1.5 fibers. And for just 28 kcal, we ingest 320 mg of potassium, 0.5 of iron, 360 of vitamin A, and 13 of vitamin C… you name it if it’s not a good swap!
An Elixir Of Life
Apricot has a secret in its heart. Its seed – what we commonly call the core – is a sort of elixir of life. Some populations of Pakistan routinely use it for extraordinary results, especially in counteracting the onset of certain types of cancer. This has led some researchers to carry out studies and to discover that the secret should be the highly concentrated vitamin B17 in these seeds, also known as amygdalin or nitriloside, a substance that would be able to inhibit the development of tumors and their metastases (among the supporters the biochemist Ernst T. Krebs, but the scientific community does not agree on the issue ).
An Apricot Skin
The fruit has always been combined with skin care. There must be a reason … from anti-wrinkle seed oil to scrub for the body. There are a thousand ways in which the fruit can be used for beauty. We, in particular, for a more compact and luminous facial skin, recommend this vitamin mask: mash the pulp of some ripe apricots well; to a spoonful of the resulting mush, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil or heavy cream or cottage cheese; mix everything and apply the cream on your eyes for 15-20 minutes; finally rinse with warm water. The version with the addition of liquid honey is also excellent.
Also Read: Walnuts: Properties, Benefits, & Recipes To Prepare
