The benefits of dried fruits

With the end of summer, seasonal fruits and vegetables end. Some of them can be preserved, but a significant proportion of the vitamins in them will be lost. You can replenish the supply of essential trace elements, minerals and vitamins from dried fruits. Dried apricots, raisins, dates, figs, dried apples and pears - all these products are on sale all year round. A special drying technology allows you to preserve nutrients and ensures long-term preservation of dried dried fruits.

What dried fruits are useful

Each type of dried fruit contains its own useful substances, recommended for various diseases or to increase the general tone of the body:

1. Dried figs are light brown in color. The product is rich in vitamins A, C, group B, it is recommended for vitamin deficiency. It also contains trace elements: sodium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and calcium. Figs have a positive effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. When hemoglobin is low, iron-rich figs help increase the number of red blood cells in the blood. Despite the high content of sugars, dried fruit restores the digestive system and lowers the level of bad cholesterol. If you have bronchitis, whooping cough, or have a severe cough, then a decoction of milk with figs will soften the respiratory tract, will reduce cough.
2. Dried apricots are dried apricots. The product has a high content of magnesium and potassium, iron, phosphorus. Dried apricots contain a lot of vegetable fiber, which helps in cleansing the intestines and normalizing the digestive tract. With anemia and general weakness of the body, dried apricots increase blood hemoglobin. The product cleans blood vessels, reduces the likelihood of clogging. The bright color of dried fruit improves mood, vitamins improve the immune system and vision.
3. Raisins are leading among dried fruits in terms of the content of vitamins A, C and group B. It has a calming effect on the nervous system, improves sleep and improves mood. Rich in trace elements: potassium, chlorine, phosphorus, magnesium, it is indicated for diseases of the cardiovascular system, blurred vision. Dark raisins contain more iron than light raisins and are beneficial for low hemoglobin levels, especially in children and pregnant women. After diseases and during the period of vitamin deficiency, raisins fills the body with nutrients, strengthens it.
4. Prunes are known for their mild laxative effects. It cleanses the intestines, detoxifies and reduces hunger due to its high fiber content. Dried fruit is produced by smoking or cured. Prunes contain a lot of iodine, manganese, iron and copper, it improves metabolic processes. Potassium and calcium in its composition strengthen the heart and blood vessels. B vitamins are indicated for physical and mental stress.
5. Dates contain a lot of pectins, which cleanse the body of toxins, accumulated heavy metals and toxins. They improve the work of the cardiovascular system, psycho-emotional state. Dried fruit contains useful trace elements: sodium, aluminum, potassium, zinc, cobalt, phosphorus. Regular consumption of dates helps lower blood pressure, increased hemoglobin.
6. Dried apples are a source of ascorbic acid and pectins. The product is rich in tannin, which improves blood circulation, prevents infections of the genitourinary system and normalizes blood circulation. Dried apples contain a lot of vitamins B, K, C. The product is rich in glucose and fructose. A decoction of dried apples helps relieve fever, relieves thirst, relieves swelling.

In addition to the beneficial effects on the body, dried fruits have a pleasant taste and smell. Children can use them instead of sweets.

Dried fruit harm

Like any other food, dried fruit should be consumed in moderation. There are also contraindications to their use:

• The high calorie content of dried fruits imposes a restriction on their use for any degree of obesity.
• The high sugar content of these foods is not recommended for diabetes.
• It is forbidden to eat dried fruits during an exacerbation of duodenal disease or stomach ulcers.

In the presence of allergic reactions or individual intolerance to certain types of dried fruits, they should also be excluded from the diet.

How many dried fruits are there

Delicious and sweet dried fruits cannot be eaten in kilograms, not only for those who are on a diet. The recommended consumption rate is no more than 200 grams per day, and in the presence of excess weight - no more than 100 grams. It is better to divide the total volume into 2-3 doses.

In the morning they can be added to porridge, cottage cheese, and used with toast. Dried fruits eaten in the morning supply carbohydrates to the body, energizing for a long time. For lunch, dried fruits are added to soups, casseroles or vegetable salads. They complement the nutritional value of meals, help to satisfy hunger. For dinner or an afternoon snack, a few dates with prunes and dried apricots can replace a full meal or be used as a healthy snack. And if you crave something sweet before bed, a small handful of raisins will save you from overeating at night.

The greatest benefits for the body are mixtures of different dried fruits. All types contain different useful elements, their combination will allow you to get everything you need for different body systems.

Before eating them, wash them under running water, and then leave them in boiling water for 5 minutes. Dried fruits will swell a little and become softer, sand and other dried-on dirt will remain in the water. Soaking is also a disinfecting procedure; parasite eggs are on the surface of many fruits. To reduce appetite, drink a glass of water before eating dried fruits. Then slowly dissolve 2-3 dried fruits. After 10 minutes, you will feel full.

Is it possible for children to dry fruits

Sweet Dried Fruit May Be A Healthy Substitute sweets... You need to accustom your child to them gradually, starting with 1-2 pieces a day. So you can notice signs of an allergic reaction if it occurs on a particular dried fruit. But even after the complete introduction of the product into the child's diet, you should not give more than 5-7 pieces of prunes, dried apricots, dates or a small handful of raisins per day. After a meal, it is advisable to give water or unsweetened tea.

With regard to age restrictions, pediatricians recommend introducing dried fruits after 11 months of age. The first to give the baby a taste of dry apples, pears, cherries. Compotes are prepared from them, added to cereals, and decoctions are prepared. All vitamins are preserved in the broth, so they are most useful for children. For decoction, washed dried fruits are poured with boiling water, cover the pan with a lid, twist with a towel and stand for 2-3 hours. After 2 years, the baby can cook cottage cheese with chopped dried apricots, baked goods with raisins.

How to make dried fruits

In summer, you can cook dried fruits from seasonal fruits, while you will be sure of the purity and quality of the product. For drying, select slightly unripe fruits, too ripe will quickly deteriorate. They are first cut into slices, slices, or used whole. You can dry fruits in the sun or using the stove, oven. Special dryers can be used.

The optimum temperature for processing dried apricots and prunes is 70 degrees, apples and pears require temperatures above, at least 80 degrees. When drying, the temperature can be increased gradually. With warm air, the pieces will dry up, then excess water will be removed, after which there will be drying itself.

If an oven is used, then the slices are laid out on baking paper or fabric in one layer, placed on a wire rack. When drying, the slices are turned over so that the product cooks evenly. It is important to ensure a constant supply of air. Cooking time depends on the variety, moisture content of the slices. Readiness is checked by pressing: if the juice is not released, then the product is ready.

If the fruit slices are to be dried in the sun, then they are first laid out in the shade in a draft. Then the trays with pieces are exposed in the sun and kept for 5-6 days. It is convenient to dry slices of apples and pears strung on ropes, which are hung in a ventilated room. This drying will take 2-3 weeks, but the resulting apple slices will retain all the nutrients.

Store ready-made dried fruits in linen bags or glass jars with lids. You cannot put such bags next to spices, spices, they will pick up a smell.

Mix of dried fruits with honey

A nutritious blend of dried fruits and honey helps to normalize the functioning of the heart. Eaten on an empty stomach, they promote proper digestion and detoxification of the body. The recipe for the mixture comes from antiquity, which is why it is called Hippocratic paste.

For its preparation, you need to take 100 g of figs, prunes, dried apricots, walnuts and 30 g of honey. If you need to get a larger volume of paste, then the ingredients are increased proportionally. All dried fruits are preliminarily washed with running water and dried. In a blender bowl, mix the components and grind. The finished paste is stored in the refrigerator and consumed in 1 tsp. 3 times a day.

The special value of dried fruits for the body is that they contain natural vitamins that affect the body deeply but gently.