What are Pears?
Pears are delicious and sweet pomaceous fruits with juicy flesh. The term “pear” actually describes a number of trees and bushes in the genus Pyrus, of the larger family Rosaceae. There are a wide variety of pear trees and only a few of them bear edible fruits that can be consumed by humans; a number of pear varieties are only used as decorative trees and shrubs. The fruit is the upper end of the flower stalk and is typically narrow at the top (stem) and wider at the bottom. However, this is not the way to ultimately determine a “pear” variety. Some pears are shaped just like apples! The appearance of the flesh inside the skin is also similar to apples, although it is a slightly grittier in consistency, due to the presence of stone cells. This is one of the most obvious differences between the two fruits, apart from the taste.
Pears originated in China and are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and there is an evidence of them being consumed since prehistoric times. Pears have been a part of many diets for thousands of years, and have been found in Celtic literature, Roman history, and Chinese lore. They can grow easily in places with temperate, cool climates that make them very versatile and easy to cultivate.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PEARS
Improve Digestion
While a single serving of pears provides 18% of the daily
requirement for fiber intake, they can be a very strong agent for
improving digestive health too. Most
of the fiber in pears is a non-soluble polysaccharide (NSP), which
means that it acts as a bulking agent in the intestines. This fiber
accumulates the food
and adds bulk so it is easier for the food to pass through the
intestines. Furthermore, it stimulates secretion of gastric and
digestive juices. It also regulates bowel movements and reduces the
chances of constipation, as well as diarrhea
and loose stool. Also, the gritty nature of pear fiber helps it bind to
cancer-causing agents and free radicals in the colon and protect the
organ from their damaging effects.
Weight Loss
One of the complaints that some people have about various fruits is the calorie content, mainly derived from natural sugars.
However, pears are one of the lowest-calorie fruits; an average pear
has just over 100 calories, which is 5% of daily calorie allowance of a
healthy diet. However, the nutritional supplementation they give you is
immense, and the fiber makes you feel full. Therefore, people
trying to lose weight often turn to pears to get the most “bang for
their buck”. It is a high-energy and high-nutrition food with low impact
on weight gain and obesity.
Antioxidant Activity
Like many other fruits, pears are a wealth
of antioxidants that combat various diseases and conditions within the
body. Antioxidants work to eliminate the free radicals that accumulate
in the body following cellular metabolism. These free radicals mutate
healthy cell DNA into cancerous cells and can cause a number of other
devastating conditions. Therefore, antioxidant components of vitamin C, vitamin A,
and flavonoid compounds like beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all
of which are found in pears, can help rid the body of these dangerous
compounds.
Prevent Cancer
Antioxidants are primarily praised for their anti-carcinogenic activities,
and pears have been connected to prevention of a number of different
types of cancer, including colon, rectum, breast, prostate, and lung
cancer.
Boost Immunity
Pears are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C that are beneficial
for the immune system, as they stimulate white blood cell
production. They have also been known to boost the immune system, which
helps to eliminate conditions like common cold, flu, and other mild
illnesses.
Improve Heart Health
Pears are a wonderful source of potassium, which means that
they can have a significant impact on heart health because potassium is a
well-known vasodilator. This means that it lowers blood pressure, which
reduces strain on the entire cardiovascular system and makes it harder
for clots to form or harm you. Furthermore, it increases blood flow to
all parts of the body, which oxygenates the organs and promotes their
effective function. Lowering blood pressure is also connected to a lower
chance of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. Finally, potassium works as a fluid regulator
in the body, meaning that it keeps the body hydrated, and ensures the
balance of essential fluids in the cells and organs. Without potassium,
many of our essential functions would be either slowed down or stopped
altogether.
Speed up Healing
Vitamin C is also an essential part of synthesizing new
tissue in various organs and cellular structures of the body. This keeps
the body’s metabolism running smoothly and ensures that all functions operate properly. Furthermore, wound healing is sped up with high levels
of ascorbic acid, which pears do provide. It also helps to repair
damaged blood vessels, which reduces the strain on the cardiovascular
system and prevents certain heart diseases from developing.
Improve Circulation
For patients suffering from anemia or other mineral deficiencies, pears can be very helpful, due to a high content of copper and iron in them. Copper facilitates and improves the uptake of minerals
into the system, and increased levels of iron mean that the red blood
cell synthesis increases. Iron is an important part of hemoglobin, and
anemia is another name
for iron deficiency. You can prevent fatigue, cognitive malfunction,
muscle weakness, and organ system malfunction by consuming foods high in
iron and copper, both of which are found in significant amounts in
pears.
Prevent Birth Defects
Folates are another valuable nutritional components of pears. Folic acid has been positively correlated with a reduction in
neural tube defects in newborns. So eating folate-rich fruits like
pears can protect the health and happiness of the baby, a major reason
why pregnant women are encouraged to monitor their folic acid levels.
Reduce Inflammation
The antioxidant and flavonoid components of pears can also induce anti-inflammatory effects in the body, reducing the pain associated with inflammation. This includes the reduction in symptoms of arthritis, rheumatic conditions, gout, and similar conditions.
Improve Bone Health
The high mineral content of pears includes magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, calcium,
and copper. These aid in reducing bone mineral loss and debilitating
conditions like osteoporosis and the general weakness of the body due to
lack of support from the bones.
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