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Page 59
| Apricots: Fresh or Dried? |
| Both fresh and dried apricots are full of nutrients, but dried apricots have the edge. A half cup provides 100 percent of the RDA for this beta-carotene, versus 50 percent in three fresh apricots. They are also richer in potassium and fiber, and they make a good remedy for constipation. |
| Dried apricots are also higher in calories than freshthree small fresh apricots contain about 50 calories; a half cup of dried apricots contains about 165 calories. That makes them a great source of concentrated energy (you'll find them in many a backpacker's pack) but also a food to be careful of when you're trying to lose weight; it's easy to eat a lot more than a half cup's worth. |
| Another point to consider: most commercial dried apricots are preserved with sulfur dioxide, which can trigger asthma attacks. If you are susceptible, read labels carefully (the FDA requires manufacturers to list sulfur dioxide or sulfites on the package) and rinse apricots thoroughly, or buy untreated apricots at natural food stores. However, be aware that unsulfured dried apricots lose most of their beta-carotene. |
| Best advice: eat all the fresh apricots you can during their brief summer season; they're uniquely delicious. The rest of the year, go with the dried. |
| ment of the most powerfully protective types that are available. |
| Studies show that people who eat foods high in antioxidant carotenes have lower cancer rates. And beta-carotene has also been found to prevent formation of plaque deposits in arteries, which can lead to coronary artery disease. |
| In the body, beta-carotene converts to vitamin A. An especially helpful nutrient for eye health, vitamin A protects the eyes from tissue-damaging free radicals that can cause cataracts and other vision problems. A study of more than fifty thousand nurses showed that women who got the most vitamin A in their diets reduced their risk of getting cataracts by more than one third. |
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