The pear symbolized immortality in ancient China. Pear trees live many years, and most variations of pear change colors as they grow. Bartlett’s ripen from green to yellow to crimson. Perhaps that is why the ancient Chinese realized that pears are beneficial for your health in a number of ways, due to their high fiber and antioxidants.
Here are the Top 10 Health Benefits of Pears:
- Help Prevent Osteoporosis: Elderly people are susceptible to osteoporosis, a disease that saps bone strengths and makes bones easier to break. Luckily, pears are brimming with boron a metalloid which our bodies need to retain calcium, so pears can help prevent this bone disease.
- Antioxidant Effect: Pears are full of antioxidant nutrients like Vitamin C and copper. that protect our cells from oxygen-related damage from free radicals. One study found that pear juice had potent free radical scavenging activity.
- Hypoallergenic: Fewer people have allergic reactions to pears than to just about any other fruit. Because so few people are allergic to pears, they are considered a safe fruit to eat around the world, and can be given to most infants.
- Good for Healthy Colon: Pears have up to six grams of fiber per medium-sized fruit, which is a great contribution to the 25 to 30 grams of fiber we need every week. Filling up on fiber keeps your digestive system moving, which is great for stomach health and preventing colon cancer. Just makes sure to eat the skin, as it contains half the pear’s fiber.
- Heart Health: The dietary fiber in pears is also good news for your heart. Studies have shown that fiber lowers bad cholesterol by removing bile salts from the body. One study even argues that a pear-filled diet can even reduce risk of stroke by up to 50 percent.
- Good for Blood Sugar Levels: The fiber in pears also makes them low on the glycemic index. Pears are also low in calories and carbs, both of which diabetics want to minimize in their diets. The minerals calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, and the vitamins C, E, K, folate, beta-carotene, lutein, choline and retinol found in pears are all vitamins and minerals diabetics- and everyone else- needs in their diet.
- Boosts Immunity: In addition to vitamins C and K, pears are packed full of B2, B3, and B6 and folate. All of these nutrients fortify the immune system to ward off illness and keep you feeling great.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties The phytonutrients in pears, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are all shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. That helps with heart and digestive health, making pears an essential component in nutrition.
- Improve Eye Health: Eating fruit everyday is good for your eyes, and the pears are one of the best fruits of all. The vitamins and nutrients in pears prevent cataracts and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration
- Improve Blood Pressure: Not only are the skin of pear’s full of fiber, they are packed with Quercetin. Quercetin is one of the antioxidants found in the skin of pears. It has demonstrated anti-cancer properties and also helps regulate blood pressure.
