Eat healthy : Apricots, great for body

Dried apricots make an excellent snack. Packed with several nutrients, they make an ideal food to munch on when you feel like eating something, especially if you have a sweet craving

The health benefits of apricots are aplenty. When dried, these health benefits increase in intensity, therefore making dried apricots a portable source of health.To begin with, apricots are rich in beta carotene � a type of vitamin A. This is great for your hair's health as well as your skin. It will contribute to your hair's luster and your skin's glow. The most commonly known benefit of vitamin A is that it's essential for the health of one's eyes. Vitamin A maintains the integrity of the eye cells as well as your skin. It keeps the skin moisturized, supple and fresh. Therefore, apricots are a beautifying food.

It also contains vitamin C. This also makes your hair and skin healthier. This is because both, vitamin a and vitamin C act as antioxidants, protecting you from free radical damage and therefore having a cleansing effect on your body. Antioxidants also fight against cancer. Apricots contain lycopene, which is a potent cancer-fighting antioxidant; therefore, apricots are the best anti-cancer food, with three types of antioxidants, i.e. vitamin A, vitamin C and lycopene.

Apricots are also known to fight acidity. Upon digesting, they have an alkaline residue in the body. So, after eating sinful heavy meals, munch on a few pieces of dried apricots to relieve yourself from all the harmful foods that you had eaten. This way, you will protect help yourself fight acidity in a healthy manner.

Apricots are great energy-boosters. They contain natural sugar, as well as fibre, which makes them excellent for curbing sweet cravings while apricots are excellent for the digestive system. They contain high amounts of fiber, therefore being great for constipation. The fiber also smoothens bowel movements.

A body with a lot of stored waste (especially when constipated) can become a breeding ground for various diseases. Dry apricots are also rich with iron. Potassium is the key nutrient for those with high blood pressure, wishing to lower it. This is available in apricots, making them excellent for hypertensive patients. Potassium also helps to improve the communication within your body, i.e. between your brain and other organs, through the nerves.

Simply put, dried apricots are great for the body, and they last longer than fresh apricots, which is a blessing during the monsoon!