Beneficial properties of apricot for humans and contraindications. How many vitamins are in fragrant apricots - how did a mysterious fruit from the East become a national plant? Apricot kernels: their benefits and harm

Apricot is a wonderful fruit. Everything about it is healthy and tasty, from the tender pulp to the bone. Even in dried form, apricot continues to delight with its beneficial properties. Isn't it a miracle?

Distribution useful substances

There is a whole storehouse of vitamins hidden inside the apricot. Vitamin C rules this pantry - 10 mg of ascorbic acid in 2-3 apricots!

It turns out that by eating 15-18 apricots a day, he can fully satisfy this need.

But the property of vitamin C to be destroyed when heated, under the influence of light and during long-term storage, leads to the fact that in dried apricots (dried apricots) there is already ten times less of it - only 1 mg.

That is, to get a loading dose of vitamin C, you need to eat apricots in fresh, then iron in your body will be better absorbed, and hematopoiesis will be normalized, and cholesterol metabolism, and work endocrine system, and immunity will increase.

In second place in terms of quantitative presence in the apricot vitamin pantry is vitamin E - 0.89 mg at daily requirement it contains 2-6 mg.

Thanks to vitamin E, apricots are very recommended for women during pregnancy, as it promotes proper development fetus and affects muscle activity.

And, perhaps, the most pleasant thing about the union of apricot and vitamin E is that when the fruit dries, this vitamin becomes four times more - 4.33 mg in one hundred grams of dried apricots!

The top three vitamin leaders in apricot are B vitamins.

Their quantity in apricot (and especially in dried apricots), each individually, is not amazing - 0.03 mg (thiamine), 0.04 (riboflavin), 9 mcg ( folic acid). But there is a whole big company of them - B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and B9. And together they are strength!

For example, thiamine normalizes the activity of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, tidies up the nervous system, and has a positive effect on internal secretion.

Riboflavin takes active participation in hematopoiesis, which is used in the fight against anemia.

It is worth mentioning separately. Apricots are valued for their content of this vitamin, although it is not significant - 577.8 mcg, and in dried apricots it is even less - 360.4 mcg. (With the daily requirement of the body - 1.5-2.5 mg).

But the benefits of vitamin A are so great that even 577 mcg are important for visual acuity, for the growth and formation of bones, for the functioning of the adrenal glands and pancreas. With vitamin A, as with vitamin C, no infections are scary. This vitamin is especially useful for children normal height and development.

Mineral Pantry

Apricot is the king of the mineral pantry - potassium - 259 mg in 2-3 pieces!

And dried apricots contain 1162 mg (!) of potassium per hundred grams of product.

It is not surprising that the introduction of dried apricots into the diet of heart patients and people suffering from kidney disease and taking diuretics has become the norm.

Who else can compare with such a record holder for potassium content? Nobody! Kuraga is a leader in this matter. It is already followed by raisins, prunes, beans and potatoes.

In second place is phosphorus - 23 mg (dried apricots - 71 mg). And although the body needs 1600 mg of phosphorus per day. Even the amount found in apricots and dried apricots can have a beneficial effect on metabolism.

Phosphorus is followed by calcium - 13 mg (dried apricots - 55 mg) and magnesium - 10 mg (dried apricots - 32 mg).

The daily requirement for the first is 800 mg. Calcium is a famous builder bone tissue, it also plays a significant role in nervous activity the body, in blood clotting, has an anti-inflammatory effect, reduces allergies.

The body's daily need for magnesium is 400 mg. Magnesium is necessary for the heart to function properly. It activates the work of the intestines, brain, has choleretic effect. Removes toxins from the body, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. A very useful mineral!

Conclusion: to get loading dose useful microelements Apricots are best eaten dried.

In addition to the above minerals, apricots contain iron, sodium, selenium, and zinc. But not in such impressive quantities, k4k potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.

What else are good about apricots?

Apricots are low in calories and do not pose a danger to those who have problems with overweight. One hundred grams of apricots (2-3 pieces) - 42 kcal. But you need to be more careful with dried apricots - as the apricot dries out, it accumulates carbohydrates. The calorie content of dried apricots is 232 kcal per 100 g. But although dried apricots contain a lot of sugar, they still have the ability to burn fat, which nutritionists use.

This is a rare fruit whose seeds are actively used: - for the preparation of apricot oil, which is used in pharmacy and cosmetology;

as a cough medicine;
as a prevention of oncology (vitamin B17 destroys cancer cells),
as an anthelmintic,
in cooking (decorating cakes and pastries).

You can enjoy this fruit all year round: in summer - apricot, in winter - dried apricots, apricots.

Apricots are rich. Armenian varieties are famous for them. If you eat them systematically, you can prevent the growth thyroid gland. Plus, the cholesterol effect of iodine is known, as is pectin, which is also found in apricots.

Apricot is suitable for all ages

The diverse beneficial properties of apricot (dried apricot) make it indispensable in the diet of older people:

Mild laxative, diuretic (magnesium, potassium).
Anti-varicose effect (strengthening the walls blood vessels due to flavonoids),
(phosphorus, magnesium),
Job cardiovascular system, against arrhythmia (potassium),
For hypertension (magnesium),
Improved vision (vitamin A),
Reducing blood cholesterol (pectin).

Pregnant:

Benefits for both old people and children

Against anemia, toxicosis (iron, magnesium),
Cleansing from toxins (pectin),
Normal fetal development (vitamin E, calcium).

Children:

Memory improvement (phosphorus, magnesium),
Mild laxative, anti-colic,
Increased immunity (vitamins A, C),
Growth, bone formation (calcium),
Apricot is hypoallergenic.

To achieve these effects, it is enough to eat 5-6 pieces of fresh apricots per day or 10-12 pieces of dried apricots. Apricot juice is healthy - one glass a day is enough to provide yourself with a daily dose of vitamins and microelements.

Contraindications

Diabetics and those who suffer from thyroid disease, ulcers, and gastritis should be careful with apricots, especially dried apricots.

Tajik and Uzbek varieties of apricots cannot be eaten by diabetics due to high content sugar - 80%.

Do not lean on apricot kernels. They contain hydrocyanic acid.

You should not eat apricots on an empty stomach - you can cause irritation to the stomach lining; you should not drink apricots with water - you can cause diarrhea.

Apricot is one of the leaders in the content of ascorbic acid and retinol. But few people know this. Many people believe that vitamin C can only be found in lemon, and retinol can only be found in carrots. However, if you eat only 200 grams of apricots per day, you can completely cover the body’s need for vitamin A and C at the same time.

Therefore, it is not for nothing that apricot is considered a national plant in Armenia (the second name for apricot is Armenian apple). In this article we will look at the benefits and harms of apricots, what vitamins and minerals Who are these fruits especially useful for? Is it possible to drink them? canned juice, eat dried apricots or kernel seeds.

Homeland of apricots

The homeland of apricots is China; apricot trees grew here 6 thousand years ago. However, they were brought to Europe later. Armenian merchants did this, so for a long time in Russia and other European countries it is " orange miracle"was called the Armenian apple.

Apricot got its name from fast maturation fruits The name translates from Portuguese as early ripening. This is true - as soon as warm temperatures set in sunny days, the fruits are already ripening within a few weeks and are ready for consumption.

Vitamins

What vitamins are contained in apricots: in addition to the above (ascorbic acid and retinol), this fruit also contains others.

Minarals

The benefits of the “Armenian apple” are also associated with the microelements it contains. There are quite a lot of the following minerals:

Benefits for the body

The benefit of apricots is their decongestant effect. Fruits have the following properties:

Improving microcirculation in the kidneys
Increase in circulating plasma volume
Increasing the strength of the vascular wall.

Therefore, contraindications for apricots are dehydration. The decongestant benefits of these fruits are used to treat heart and renal failure(of course, in combination with pharmacological therapy).

Apricots are also good for the health of the nervous system, improve memory and concentration. Therefore, it is good to eat them if a person is engaged in intellectual work. At the same time, fresh and dried fruits and juice are useful.

For pregnant women

Apricots are also good for pregnant women. The fruits and juice are an excellent laxative. During pregnancy, the problem of constipation is relevant, as it slows down intestinal peristalsis in the background hormonal changes, and the growing uterus gradually begins to squeeze the rectum. In addition, the choice of laxatives during pregnancy is very limited due to the possible negative influence for the fruit. Apricots and their juice do not have this drawback, so during the season, pregnant women can eat 200-300 grams of these fruits every day.

Bones

The benefits of apricot kernels have long been noticed by doctors. Special Application they found in modern medicine and cosmetology.

Most often they are used in the following cases:

For exfoliating the skin, exfoliating dead cells and removing impurities. A scrub made from apricot kernels copes well with this task.
Oil, which is obtained from apricot kernels, helps nourish and soften the skin. This excellent remedy to prevent early wrinkles
Apricot oil is also a good base for making creams and shampoos
The benefits of apricot kernels (harm occurs when overuse) also in their positive impact on respiratory system and kidneys.

Dried apricots

Dried apricots are dried apricots. Healing properties and their harm is identical to fresh fruits. However, by reducing the amount of water, 100 grams of this product become much higher in calories than fresh ones. Therefore, people who are prone to overweight, should not eat dried fruits.

Juice

Benefit apricot juice less than from ripe fruits, since the juice contains less fiber. The harm of apricot juice is that it can lead to an excess intake of easily digestible carbohydrates and, as a result, excess weight gain.

Considering the beneficial properties of apricots, we can identify a group of people who are especially suitable for these fruits and juice:

Pregnant
Patients suffering from heart and vascular diseases
Patients with digestive tract problems
Edema syndrome
Anemia.

Possible harm and contraindications

Despite the benefits, apricot pits can cause harm. This is due to the content of certain substances in their composition. First of all we're talking about about hydrocyanic acid and amygdalin. When they enter the body in large quantities, intoxication may develop. This can occur when consuming canned food made from whole fruits if they are stored for a long time.

Green apricots

Are there any benefits to green apricots? Nutritionists do not recommend eating unripe fruits, since they contain neither vitamins nor minerals that could be absorbed by the human body. In addition, green apricots can also be harmful and can cause intestinal poisoning.

Symptoms of such poisoning:

Stomach ache
Nausea
Vomit
Diarrhea
Weakness
Increased body temperature.

Apricots as a seasonal fruit are extremely beneficial for pregnant women and children, as important vitamins are present in their composition in greater quantities. Dream large quantities It is useful to drink juice and also eat dried apricots. It is only important to buy quality products from trusted sellers.

Fruits occupy a special, almost honorable place in our diet, because they are the most important source useful substances for the body. Each fruit has its own characteristics and composition, different sets of minerals and vitamins - and to guide healthy image life, you need to figure it out.

For example, apricots - they have a wonderful taste and contain many useful substances and vitamins. They are used not only as food, they have also found application in cosmetology - masks and scrubs are made from apricots.

What is an apricot made of?

Apricot is a low-calorie fruit. Only 40 kilocalories per 100 grams. So it is ideal for dieting.

Apricot composition:

water- 86.2 grams,
carbohydrates- 9 grams,
dietary fiber- 2.1 grams,
protein- 0.9 grams,
fats- 0.1 grams.

Apricots also contain a rich set of vitamins: A, B5, C, E, PP and beta-carotene.

Mineral elements of apricot:

calcium- strengthens bones and teeth,
magnesium- affects nervous system,
iron- helps with anemia,
silicon- maintains the elasticity of connective tissues,
cobalt- accelerates blood recovery,
vanadium- promotes metabolism.

The beneficial properties of apricot are contained not only in its pulp, but also in the pit and peel.

How to eat apricots?

Apricot pulp

Apricot pulp in its fresh form is a storehouse of vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system. With regular consumption of apricot, the mineral elements it contains stabilize blood pressure and work digestive system. And the potassium contained in apricots is also useful for diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Is it possible to eat apricot pits?

Apricot kernels themselves contain hydrocyanic acid and large doses may harm the body, but in small doses they are good for the heart and increase brain activity. In addition, they are rich in protein, which is so important for the healthy development of muscle tissue.

Urbech from apricot kernels

Urbech is a mass obtained by grinding nucleoli without any processing. Possibly with honey. Can pass for both a small tasty and satisfying snack and medicine- due to the high content of vitamin B in apricot kernels, urbech is used as prophylactic for oncological diseases.

Apricot kernel oil

Produced by squeezing apricot kernels. This oil contains large number substances beneficial to the body. It is used to treat colds(laryngitis, bronchitis). Also used in for cosmetic purposes as a moisturizer for skin and hair.

Apricot pulp jam

Even after passing heat treatment, apricot pulp retains most of its useful elements: calcium - for bones, vanadium - for metabolism, and so on.

Apricot juice

Can you eat green apricots?

You should not eat unripe green apricots in any form. There are simply no useful substances in them. In addition, there is a risk of damage to digestion.

What are the benefits of apricot?

Fruits should always be present in any person’s diet to maintain the balance of vitamins in the body.

The effects of apricots can be completely different - it depends on in what form and who eats them.

The benefits of apricots for women

For women, apricot is a real source of beneficial substances for improvement. appearance skin and hair, and they also strengthen the nervous system. Moreover, they are low-calorie, and you can eat them for pleasure without worrying about your figure. The abundance of vitamin A helps good eyesight and uninterrupted heart function.

The benefits of apricots for men

It will be useful for a man to know that apricots stimulate the growth of muscle tissue well, and at the same time slow down the aging process and have a positive effect on health. male potency. Constant use this fruit is good and proper prevention diseases of blood vessels and heart.

The benefits of apricots for children

There is no doubt that apricots are very, very important and beneficial for the growing body, because they contain carotene, which stimulates growth, as well as potassium for the heart, phosphorus for the brain, and all other important and useful elements.

Even during the development of the fetus during a woman’s pregnancy, already during this period, the minerals contained in apricot stimulate healthy ripening of the fetus and wellness expectant mother.

Apricots in cosmetology

Apricots are widely used in cosmetology - for cooking various ointments and oils, pulp, seeds, and juice are used. They cleanse the skin, nourish it and help restore it. Masks are made by mixing the pulp with various bases, such as milk, cottage cheese, egg white, honey, cream, olive oil.

Seed oil can be used on its own cosmetic product, and as a basis for ointments and scrubs.

What harm can apricots cause?

How many apricots can you eat per day?

Knowing about the many beneficial properties of apricot, we must not forget that overeating this fruit can harm the body. The daily dose of apricot is 300 grams, and for pregnant women - 100 grams per day, no more. The most harmful thing about an apricot is its pit, which contains hydrocyanic acid.

Who shouldn't eat apricots?

Moreover, in apricot great content sugar, so it should not be eaten by people suffering diabetes mellitus. Women should not eat it during lactation to avoid indigestion and abdominal pain.

Contraindications for eating apricot:

thyroid dysfunction,
stomach diseases,
ulcers,
disturbances in the process of carotene absorption,
diabetes mellitus

From March to April, flowering apricot trees fill the streets with their fragrant scent. And already in June you can enjoy fragrant and useful fruits apricots, which will delight you with their taste until the very end of summer. The fruits of this tree quickly satisfy the feeling of hunger, invigorate, improve health, while being a low-calorie product.

Apricots contain many vitamins and microelements that are very beneficial for children and adults. We can talk about this fruit for quite a long time, but let's look at it specific benefit and certain restrictions on eating this sweet southern “guest”.

Eating a handful of dried apricots or a couple fresh fruits daily, you can soon feel beneficial effect of this fruit on the body. The skin smoothes out and becomes elastic, hair regains its lost shine, and well-being noticeably improves. The reason for such positive changes is as follows:

The large amount of fiber contained in fresh fruits, renders beneficial influence on bowel function. For constipation or fermentation processes in the intestines, apricots and compotes made from them have a bactericidal effect and a mild laxative effect. At the same time, acidity is normalized gastric juice.

The potassium salts contained in apricots make them beneficial for normal functioning cardiovascular system. Magnesium and the B group of vitamins strengthen the heart muscle. Among other things, the nervous system is restored and healed.

This fruit helps to avoid iodine deficiency, thereby eliminating the possibility of thyroid disease.

An important fact is that apricots and dried apricots do not lose all the beneficial properties of apricot, so you can enjoy this fruit all year round, while improving your health.

Daily intake this fruit promotes hematopoiesis and activates protective functions the body, in addition, removes cholesterol and toxins from it.

Apricots also help well in the fight against excess weight, as they stop the feeling of hunger for a long time.

Apricot juice

Apricot juice is considered healthier than the fruit itself, since it is more fully and quickly absorbed.

Pregnant women need 150 ml healing juice to top up daily dose iron and calcium, which are very important when bearing a child.

Daily use apricot juice will help get rid of colitis, dysbacteriosis and flatulence.

The juice is also a good diuretic and helps with swelling (half a glass between meals).

At viral infection and colds, the drink can act as an antipyretic, while suppressing viruses. You just need to include juice in the menu during illness and recovery will occur much faster.

Healing apricot leaves

A decoction of the leaves helps cleanse the body of toxins. It is very useful for people who are exposed to unfavorable factors during his professional activity. For example, working in radioactive zone, in textile and chemical industry etc.

Since the decoction also has a pronounced diuretic effect, it will be very useful for people suffering from various diseases kidney To prepare a decoction, the leaves are crushed and poured hot water and let it brew for 30 minutes.

At skin diseases, hematomas, sunburn a compress from fresh leaves this fruit. And to get rid of bad breath or dental plaque, just chew apricot leaves for a few minutes.

Thus, apricot leaves, if used correctly, will do absolutely no harm to your health.

The benefits and harms of apricot kernels

Apricot kernels can cure diseases respiratory tract: asthma or bronchitis. To do this, the seeds, crushed into powder, should be taken with milk four times a day.

Apricot kernel infusion is antibacterial agent, which is used for acne.

In large quantities fruit seeds are very harmful, since amygdalin, which is located in the nuclei, converts nutrients into hydrocyanic acid, which is dangerous for humans.

Apricot kernels against diabetes

Experts believe that apricot kernels should be consumed with caution in type 2 diabetes.

Quite a lot of products approved for consumption healthy people, are contraindicated for diabetics. Regarding apricots, they should be noted medicinal properties, since they have high antioxidant property. Although in diabetes positive qualities may be highly questionable.

But if the patient still decides to use this product, he should strictly follow the recommendations of the attending physician. It is recommended to exclude other sugar-containing products from the diet, making certain calculations for each individual product and creating your own menu based on this. Although it is better if the attending physician does this.

Some patients suffering from high sugar in the blood, ignore these rules. And this can lead to the fact that even a harmless apricot fruit can cause harm to the body.

Apricots during pregnancy

Apricots are not prohibited for pregnant women, but abuse of this fruit can cause allergic reactions from the expectant mother. Let's consider positive aspects when eating apricots during pregnancy:

If a pregnant woman has no contraindications to the use of this product, then there is no reason to refuse this useful and juicy fruit. Balanced diet during pregnancy will be the key to the health of the unborn child.

Apricots during breastfeeding

The fruit has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect, and also helps fight fever.

Vitamin “A” activates collagen production, thereby slowing down the aging process of the skin, restoring its freshness and elasticity.

Copper and iron, which are found in the fruit, increase the hemoglobin level in the blood of a young mother.

Carotene and vitamins strengthen the retina and optic nerve , and also do not allow you to weaken peripheral vision.

The presence of potassium in the product helps regulate cellular water balance, thereby providing positive influence on blood pressure, preventing hypertension and the risk of stroke.

At breastfeeding Apricot fruits are a source of nutrients and vitamins. You can include in your diet dried fruits, marmalades and jams.

Thus, apricots are beneficial in many ways for a nursing mother, although in some cases their consumption should be limited.

Contraindications include the following:

Liver disease.
Diabetes mellitus.
Thyroid gland dysfunction.
Pancreatitis.

Nursing mothers should avoid apricot kernels (kernels), as the cyanogenic glycoside they contain , harmful to the baby’s brain and nervous system.

Dried apricots: benefits

Talking about dried fruits, you should know that their beneficial properties are preserved when dried. Unique useful qualities this fruit is explained by its rich composition:

Dried apricot fruits are especially useful for people with ailments related to the cardiovascular system, since potassium salts have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle, regulating blood pressure and increasing the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

For anemia, as well as during pregnancy, moderate consumption of dried fruits will be very useful.

Compote of this dried fruit in spring and winter period is an excellent remedy for vitamin deficiency.

For those who are on a diet, dried apricots can be a good alternative to sweets products such as sweets, cakes and pastries. Consumption of such dried fruits in in moderation optimizes metabolic processes which helps you get rid of it faster excess weight.

Apricots for children

Apricots of all varieties are very healthy. The main thing is that the fruit is fully ripe, since green apricots lead to malfunction gastrointestinal tract, and also cause serious diarrhea.

In the absence of intestinal and stomach diseases, with normal operation liver, dried apricots and fresh apricots are recommended to be included in the children's diet, as this healthy product brings next benefit for health:

Activates mental activity.
Stimulates immunity.
Protects the heart.
Strengthens the nervous system.
Prevents vitamin deficiency.

What is the harm of apricots?

Despite its unique useful composition, apricots in certain cases can be harmful to health. This applies primarily to people with a history of diabetes. After all, different varieties of apricot contain from 60 to 80% sugars. Apricots and dried apricots are saturated with sugars to an even greater extent. That's why, eating an apricot after a hearty lunch or before breakfast, you will complicate the digestion of food, given the satiety of the fruit.

In case of gastritis, pancreatitis, the presence of duodenal or stomach ulcers, it is advisable to minimize the consumption of apricots, since in these cases they will only cause harm.

Excessive apricot overdose can lead to diarrhea and harm your health. Symptoms of such an overdose are:

Rapid heartbeat.
Low blood pressure.
Dizziness.

In addition to the pulp, the kernels that are located inside the seed are also eaten. If you eat a lot of kernels, you can get poisoned, although the pulp itself neutralizes these poisons.

There are no specific norms for the consumption of apricots, but doctors recommend eating no more than 500 grams. per day in the absence of various contraindications.

Thus, comparing all the benefits and harms obtained from apricots, I would like to use them again special attention on important points. Apricot is not only southern delicious fruit, but also a treasure trove of minerals and vitamins, which are very useful for many age categories people. The main thing when using it is to comply with certain standards and not forget about various contraindications, which can ruin your enjoyment of taking it useful product.

Apricot is a tree with bright sugar fruits that satisfy hunger and contain a lot of useful elements. Its spread began from China, although apricot came to the Slavs from Armenia.

Chemical composition of apricot

All parts of the apricot have a very generous chemical composition. The bark is rich tannins, wood – flavonoids, leaves contain phenolcarbonic and ascorbic acid, and flowers contain carotene. But the most beneficial thing is the pulp (both fresh and dried), as well as the kernels of the fruit.

The apricot fruit contains a large amount of vitamins in its pulp: almost the entire group B, vitamins A, PP, C, H and E. The pulp contains trace elements such as iron, iodine, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, fluorine, boron, aluminum, silicon, vanadium, nickel and cobalt. Macroelements are represented by calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chlorine and sulfur. The color of the fruit depends on the amount of carotene in it: the more there is, the brighter and more saturated the color.

The apricot kernel contains protein and oil with organic acids. These are linoleic, stearic and myristic acids. The seeds contain up to 50% non-drying fatty oil In addition, they contain poison - hydrocyanic acid.

Beneficial properties of apricot

Ascorbic acid in apricot forms antibodies in the body that can resist infections. This vitamin makes the walls of blood vessels strong and resists cancer cells. Vitamin B5 ( pantothenic acid) strengthens nerve endings, stimulates work internal glands and regulates lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism in the body.

Biologically active substances composed of juice from apricot pulp stimulate appetite, improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, stimulate blood circulation and improve vision thanks to carotene. Regular consumption of juice reduces cholesterol levels, normalizes blood pressure and helps with liver disease.

The benefits of apricots for children are especially great. Prepared from the pulp baby food, which contains easily digestible simple sugars. Purees and canned food stimulate the growth of children and have a general strengthening effect on a fragile body. Apricots regulate the acidity of gastric juice, which normalizes the functioning of the pancreas, gallbladder and liver.

Did you know? In the Middle Ages, the topic of aphrodisiacs was very popular in Europe. These included apricot, which was mentioned by William Shakespeare in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The use of apricots in folk medicine

The list of diseases for which apricot helps is impressive: it is used for constipation, intestinal diseases, colitis, and problems with cardiac activity. Apricot is an excellent antipyretic. The juice of the fruit inhibits putrefactive bacteria in the body. For senile constipation, it is recommended to drink apricot compote. Apricot juice makes it easier discomfort with flatulence and dysbacteriosis.

Dried fruits are useful for pregnant women and for patients with anemia - they replenish potassium deficiency. Dried apricots also eliminate bacteria in oral cavity, carrying bad smell. People's and official medicine recognizes the benefits of dried apricots for cancer patients who need potassium and sodium to restore the body.

Apricot normalizes digestion. It is used for coughs as a thinner, and is used for bronchitis, whooping cough, and inflammation of the trachea and pharynx. Eating “sunny” fruits activates the brain. The benefits of apricots for stomach ulcers are also invaluable; they work as a diuretic, removing hidden swelling that appears with this disease.

The use of apricots in cosmetology

Apricot is a valuable crop for cosmetology. It is used to create tonic, nourishing, cleansing, restorative and strengthening products. Silicon present in apricot promotes the regeneration of damaged tissues, strengthening hair and nail plates. At the same time, sulfur improves metabolism.

Body scrub with apricot kernels Gently cleanses the skin of dead and dead cells. The skin becomes healthy looking and color, becomes elastic and soft.

A face mask is good for problem skin: it removes acne and irritation, deeply cleanses and smoothes out fine wrinkles, evens out the skin. Regular use of hair masks will give your hair a healthy shine, stimulate its growth and give strength to weakened hair.

Apricot oil used in hand, nail and eyelash care products. In frosty and windy weather, the oil will replace lip balm and cure already chapped lips.

Use of apricots in cooking

Apricot is loved by many chefs. It is used as a filling for pies, muffins, cupcakes, buns and other baked goods. Fruit halves are used to decorate cakes and cream desserts. Prepare mousses and soufflés, cottage cheese casseroles. Apricots are used to make jelly, marshmallows, and marmalade. For the winter, they make jam, preserves, jams from it, freeze and dry it, preserve it whole and in halves, make syrups, and dry it.

The characteristic sourness in taste allows apricots to be stewed with meat and poultry, baked in rolls, added to salads, seasonings and sauces. Pilaf, porridge and other main courses and side dishes are prepared with apricot. Compotes are made from apricots, juice is squeezed, jelly and fruit drinks are made. An extract for essences is produced from the juice of the fruit. The kernels are used as an almond substitute.

Important! You should not get carried away with apricot kernels - they contain hydrocyanic acid, which can cause poisoning in high concentrations.

Many oriental sweets are prepared from apricots: sherbet, halva, Turkish delight and others. Alcohol producers also resort to apricot: they make liqueurs, wine and liqueurs from it, which can then also be used in the preparation of desserts, for example, soaking cake layers with apricot alcohol.

Interesting! The famous Italian liqueur “Amaretto” is flavored with apricot kernel extract.

Contraindications and side effects of apricot

Contraindications to eating apricot are: acute form pancreatitis, thyroid disease and serious violation liver functions. With such disorders, the body does not absorb retinol and carotene contained in apricot. Eating more than 20 g of apricot kernels per day will lead to consequences such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, upset stomach and even loss of consciousness. This is due to the content of glycoside and amygdalin in the nuclei - toxic substances.