September is upon us, kids are back in school, and flu season is around the corner. we have been told “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but whats about pears! Pears are also in season and this soft, sweet, juicy fruit is perfect for enjoying fresh or for using in healthy recipes! Plus there are so many varieties to choose from — Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou — that they each seem like a different fruit.
Rich in Fiber: Pears are one of the highest fiber fruits, offering six grams per medium-sized fruit, helping you to meet your daily requirement of 25 to 30 grams. Filling up on fiber keeps you regular to prevent a bloated belly caused by constipation, which also helps prevent colon cancer. A diet high in fiber can also keep your cholesterol levels down. Getting your fill of fiber from fruit is also linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The hydroxycinnamic acid found in pears is also associated with preventing stomach and lung cancer.
Vitamin Booster: Pears contain a fair amount of vitamins C, K, B2, B3, and B6. For expecting or nursing moms, they also contain folate. Pears aren’t too shabby in the mineral department either, containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese. Vitamin C and copper are antioxidant nutrients, so eat a pear to boost your immune system.
Bone Density: Pears also contain boron, which our bodies need in order to retain calcium, so this fruit can also be linked to prevention of osteoporosis.
For EVERYONE: It’s a hypoallergenic fruit which means those with food sensitivities can usually eat pears with no adverse effects.
Eating three or more servings of fruits a day, such as pears, may also lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults. Quercetin is another antioxidant found in the skin of pears. It helps prevent cancer and artery damage that can lead to heart problems, and a recent study at Cornell University found it may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
So don’t peel your pears and enjoy a pear a day!
MPS
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