Apricot — a garden tree with bright and juicy fruits. Today we will tell you about structure of fruit, its application, the use and also about nutrition value. Everything that you wanted to know about apricots, you can learn from our article.
Characteristic and description
Large apricot trees can live up to 70 years in favorable climate and fructify up to 45. In height the tree reaches at most 7 m. The period when the plant begins to bear fruits, depends on whether it was imparted or ascended after crops of a stone. In the first case the fruits will appear not earlier, than in 3 years, and seedlings — in 4-5 years. On average, if the tree grows in favorable conditions, it is capable to yield a harvest of 8 or 9 times in 10 years.
Whether you know? The apricot was brought from Central Asia to Europe in the first century BC.
The root system of a tree is much more than its krone what follows from that other plants badly develop near it.
Chemical composition: caloric content and vitamins
The apricot has pleasant aroma and sweet taste. We learn, this product is how valuable to our organism.
Caloric content
Generally these fruits are eaten in a crude or dried look (then it is accepted to call fruit dried apricots). The power value of a fresh apricot does not exceed 44 kcal on 100 g while dried apricots contains 232 kcal on 100 g.
Learn, than dried apricots (dried apricots) are useful.
Also it is the share of 100 g of a product:
- proteins — 0.9 g;
- fats — 0.1 g;
- carbohydrates — 9.0 g (in dried apricots it is more);
- ashes — 0.7 g;
- waters — 86.5 g.
Micro and macrocells
The product contains various minerals promoting strengthening of bones, normalization of work of a muscular system, functioning of nervous system, vessels and digestive system. Fruits are rich with such substances as:
- potassium;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- beta carotene;
- it is well-cared.
Iron and copper contain in a small amount.
Important! Beta carotene has the mass of useful properties, however one of main protection against free radicals who cause oncology is considered.
Vitamins
Besides mineral substances, your organism receives a number of vitamins from apricots. And, PP, B3, B5, B9, B2, B6, H, C and E which also promote strengthening of your organism and its functioning.
Economic value and application
It is mainly used in the food industry. Do alcoholic beverages, juice of fruits, to preservation and also use in confectionery. As for a stone, do oil which on the properties is similar to almonds oil of its kernel. This oil can be used both in food, and in the cosmetic purposes.
The apricot fruit which is dried up in the natural way with a stone call dried apricots.
Use in cookery
Taste
Most often apricots are eaten crude without any additives because of its self-sufficient and peculiar taste. These fleshy orange fruits are capable both to sate an organism, and I am eager to satisfy as they contain a large amount of liquid. It is possible to tell that the apricot has the balanced sweet-sour taste.
As eat
Besides crude apricots and dried apricots use also tinned fruits in own juice. Also there are numerous liqueurs, syrups and, of course, apricot juice. It is possible to meet as a stuffing for candies or in cookies. In the latter case, we eat fruit in the form of jam or jam. Eat also apricot stone kernels, having split a shell. The stone of a fruit tastes like almonds.
Whether you know? One of the Austrian national dishes is Zakher cake which contains a double layer of apricot confiture.
Useful properties
Considering what amount of various vitamins and minerals contains in apricots, it is possible to carry this product to the category of useful safely. Juice of this fruit is irreplaceable at the lowered acidity and diseases of intestines as it has properties, bactericidal for an organism.
The fruit also in the following cases is useful:
- anemia;
- avitaminosis;
- lock;
- hypertension;
- anemia;
- obesity;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- renal diseases;
- oncology;
- diseases of a thyroid gland;
- the raised cholesterol;
- the lowered hemoglobin;
- memory impairment.
Crude beet, pumpkin, mango, apples, watermelon, beer yeast interfere with development of anemia.
As for the diseases connected with a digestive tract and kidneys, fruit helps to clean an organism from toxins and stimulates work of intestines as it contains a large amount of water and bile-expelling minerals, such as magnesium, potassium and calcium.
Vitamins A, With, E, contained in an apricot, are antioxidants and therefore they are useful in case of oncological diseases and at an anemia. The same vitamins, iron and potassium strengthen walls of vessels, interfere with atherosclerotic processes and anemia which is directly connected with inability of an organism to produce hemoglobin because of deficiency of iron.
Important! The apricot is not medicine. Substance, contained in it, will only help you to warn diseases or to improve the state of health, can become a part of your balanced food on the way to recovery.
For female health
First of all, if you have no allergy, this fruit will be useful during pregnancy and feeding by a breast. Thus the child with milk will receive a number of vitamins and minerals. If you dream to lose weight, the product can make a part of your diet and help to bring toxic substances out of an organism, cleaning intestines. Apricot oil is capable to eliminate from a face rash, eels and to slow down aging processes. Use oil and for hair, it promotes their food and moistening.
Harm and contraindications
Certainly, the product has also contraindications. Because of high content of sugar in fruits, it should not be used to diabetics in large numbers. Otherwise, the product can cause aggravation. At pancreatitis it is necessary to be limited to 2 fruits a day, otherwise swelling, a meteorizm and digestive violations can develop. Also fresh fruit is contraindicated at dropsy, however it can be used in broth or in the form of dried apricots.
We choose
The ripe fruit has to have a uniform color, orange color, besides, mature fruit differs in aroma. If the product too firm to the touch and on it is greenish or light yellow spots, it means did not ripen yet, and you do not derive due pleasure at its use.
That wax and paraffin which producers quite often process fruit and vegetables did not get to an organism, it is necessary to wash them correctly.
Storage
It is the best of all to store apricots in the fridge or at the room temperature. It is necessary to exclude hit of direct sunshine on fruit. If the product did not ripen yet, it is possible to leave it for 3-5 days at the room temperature, and then it will ripen.
Apricot — useful and tasty fruit with which it is possible to replace chocolate and any other dessert, especially during the summer period. The product is harmless to most of people, but nevertheless it is worth using it moderately. Besides, fruit helps with acquisition of desirable forms by you and is capable to prolong your youth as a part of the correct diet.