Dried apricots with kefir for weight loss. Dried apricots are an excellent product for weight loss if you know the nuances of use. Useful properties of dried apricots for women

When losing weight, this dried fruit is so difficult to refuse! After all, it is so good for preparing low-calorie and at the same time incredibly tasty desserts and confectionery, as a sweet and sour seasoning for various sauces and pilaf, as a filling for homemade pies!

It turns out that you don’t need to do this, because it can easily be included in the menu of almost any diet without harming your figure. This is a protector of the heart, a sunny fruit and a natural sweetener - dried apricots, so beloved by many housewives for their excellent taste.

general information

What it is

Dried apricots are dried halves of apricots from which the pit has previously been removed. Should be distinguished from other dried fruits obtained from the same fruit:

apricot - dried whole small-fruited apricot along with the pit;
kaisa - dried whole apricot without pit (it is removed in advance through a recess made where the stalk is attached);
Ashtak is a dried whole apricot, from which, before the drying process, the pit is carefully removed, and the kernel is removed from it and then put back into the fruit.

For weight loss, it is better to choose dried apricots, since other dried fruits obtained from apricots no longer have such a wealth of beneficial properties and have a higher calorie content.

Production process

Drying apricots is a production process in several stages:

Fresh, selected, large apricots are cut into halves.
A bone is removed from each.
Next, the fruits are dried in the sun in places specially equipped for this. Duration - 6-8 days.

When the fruits get exposed to moisture during this process, they darken. To get 1 kg of dried apricots, you need about 4 kg of fresh ones. The uniqueness and value of this product is that during the production process it retains most of the vitamins and microelements.

Chemical composition

If we talk about what vitamins and other useful substances dried apricots are rich in, it’s easier to name those that are not in it. This is another undoubted advantage for losing weight: if you include it in your diet, you don’t have to worry about vitamin deficiency. The body will receive everything it needs. Especially the heart, because there is so much magnesium here!

vitamins: A, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, C, E, H, K, PP, beta-carotene;
macroelements: potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine;
trace elements: aluminum, iodine, boron, vanadium, iron, cobalt, lithium, manganese, copper, molybdenum, nickel, rubidium, selenium, fluorine, chromium, zinc;
omega-6 fatty acids;
starch and dextrins.

Thanks to such a rich chemical composition, dried apricots turn out to be a very healthy product.

The nutritional value

The calorie content of dried apricots per 100 grams is 241 kcal. Protein - 3.39 g; fat - 0.51 g; carbohydrates - 62.64 g.

If you know how much one dried apricot weighs, you can calculate the nutritional value individually. Approximately (if you take a medium-sized dried fruit) there are 7 grams in one piece. So the calorie content of dried dried apricots per 1 piece. is about 16.8 kcal. Protein - 0.24 g; fat - 0.04 g; carbohydrates - 4.47 g.

Using simple calculations, it turns out that 100 grams of dried apricots is approximately 14 pieces.

Origin of name. The word is borrowed from the Turkic language, where “kurägä” is translated as “dried apricots”.

Benefits and harms for losing weight

Many, seeing such a high calorie content per 100 g of product, begin to doubt whether it is possible to eat dried apricots while losing weight. After all, 241 kcal is quite a lot for those who are concerned about preparing a diet. However, such fears are completely vain and groundless. This dried fruit can be included in the menu as part of weight loss.

Benefit

First, let's finally solve the calorie issue. Indeed, dried apricots contain 241 kcal, but this is in 100 grams, which contain up to 14 pieces! Now answer: can you eat such a large amount of this dried fruit at once? Firstly, it is quite sweet. Secondly, it's filling. Even with all my love for him, it is difficult to absorb such a good handful at once. For 1 meal - 3-4 pieces, and this is a maximum of 70 kcal, which definitely will not harm the figure, but will perfectly suppress hunger and allow you not to break off the diet ahead of time.

So the high calorie content of dried apricots is not an obstacle to weight loss. Moreover, it has the most beneficial effect on the functioning of internal organs. And the chemical composition with which it is so rich triggers many biochemical reactions that contribute to weight loss. What is the benefit:

satiates quickly and for a long time, making you forget about hunger and cope with;
cleanses the body and intestines of everything unnecessary, as it has a mild laxative effect;
improves digestion, and with proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, most fats and carbohydrates are used for energy consumption and are not stored in reserve;
eliminates puffiness, which gives a puffy appearance to an already full figure;
supplies the body with glucose, which is so lacking during weight loss, - this allows you to overcome cravings for sweets and not even break down;
improves mood, relieves irritability, nervousness and eternal bad mood, which are constant companions of any diet;
energizes as it contains carbohydrates, which allows you to play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle and burn the maximum number of calories during the day.

So there is no doubt about the benefits of dried apricots for weight loss.

Harm

However, any coin has two sides - and so it is with dried apricots. When including it in your diet when losing weight, you need to keep in mind the negative aspects of its active use.

Attention! Toxins!

Firstly, it can be harmful and even dangerous to health. The problem is that industrial methods for preparing this dried fruit involve the use of toxic preservatives. In particular, tetravalent sulfur oxide (dioxide) (listed as E220). Manufacturers add it so that the fruits acquire an attractive, appetizing bright amber, yellow-orange color. Unfortunately, independent research conducted recently has found that most dried apricots on the market today are treated with this toxin.

Why is this dangerous? When losing weight, it is recommended to eat dried apricots regularly to replenish the lack of glucose and energy and prevent overeating and breakdowns. However, with prolonged use, sulfur oxide tends to accumulate in the body. The results can be the most disastrous: from severe allergies and the development of asthma to toxic damage to the lungs and bronchi.

Too much calories

Secondly, when losing weight, the high calorie content of dried fruit can be harmful. During a diet, people are hungry and crave sweets. That's why it's so easy to get carried away by tender and tasty fruits rich in glucose. You can easily exceed the daily norm and go overboard with calories.

Side effects

If you get too carried away with dried apricots, you can harm your own body. Abuse is fraught with serious intestinal disorders: diarrhea (remember the laxative effect), bloating and paroxysmal pain in the stomach. Therefore, it is so important not only to comply with the daily intake, but also not to sit on a diet based on this dried fruit for too long.

Contraindications

Not everyone will be able to organize weight loss with the help of dried apricots and include it in the diet menu due to the presence of contraindications. These include chronic stomach diseases (ulcers, pancreatitis, gastritis), a tendency to diarrhea and allergies, bronchial asthma, low blood pressure during pregnancy and lactation, and diabetes. Before increasing the amount of dried fruit in your diet, you should consult your doctor to avoid side effects and unwanted health complications.

Ways to lose weight

Fasting day

For express weight loss, when you urgently need to lose a couple of kilograms in literally 24 hours or simply cleanse the intestines and body of debris, the best option would be a fasting day. It can be organized every 10 or 15 days.

Option 1

You are allowed to consume no more than 300 g of dried apricots per day. They can be divided into 3 main meals (100 g each) or 5, if you adhere to the principles of fractional meals (60 g each). Each dried fruit must be chewed thoroughly and slowly. Apart from this, you should not eat any solid foods. But you can drink regular or mineral water in unlimited quantities. It is advisable to do this in the morning to enhance the laxative and detoxifying effect.

Option 2

On the eve of the fasting day, pour 200 g of dried apricots with a liter of hot water (but not boiling water). Leave overnight. Strain the next morning. During the day, eat dried fruits soaked in water in small portions and drink the infusion.

A fasting day allows you to reboot the body, get rid of toxins, waste and excess fluid. By doing it regularly, you can control your weight and maintain good physical shape.

Diets

Mono-diet

If the fasting day on dried apricots went well (with no side effects, good health and loss of extra pounds), you can safely go on a three-day mono-diet. The diet remains the same. If an acute feeling of hunger occurs, you are allowed to additionally eat 1 green apple per day and drink 1 glass of low-fat kefir. Weight loss of 4-5 kg is guaranteed.

Diet for a week

Here it is no longer possible to eat such a large amount of dried fruit per day, since the main meals will contain other foods. The foundation of the menu is proteins (milk, chicken, eggs), complex carbohydrates (cereals) and healthy fats (fish, nuts, oils). Daily calorie content - 1,500 kcal. It contains 100 grams of dried apricots, which should be consumed daily. Schemes can be very different. For example, eat 50 g at lunch and for an afternoon snack. Or 20 g after each of 5 meals. Or use some of it for preparing dietary dishes, and eat some in its pure form.

The main thing when following such a diet is not to exceed the recommended daily intake of 100 grams and not to lose weight in this way for more than a week. Otherwise, the health harm and side effects described above cannot be avoided.

If you just want to eat dried apricots while on a weight loss diet, just agree on this issue with and add dried fruit to it, giving up something else.

Questions and answers

How to choose

To ensure that weight loss does not have a negative impact on health, dried apricots for the diet should be selected with special care. What to look for when choosing:

it should not be too bright, unnatural shade;
high-quality fruits are grayish or dark brown in color;
a too regular, rounded shape is another alarm bell: the natural one will be wrinkled and uneven;
it should be soft - this indicates a new, fresh harvest;
the fewer food additives (so-called e-sheks) indicated on the package, the better;
E220 should definitely be abandoned;
fruits are whole, without damage or mold;
the smell is pleasant, fresh, and not musty and sour.

Dried apricots should not be too bright, unnatural shade

If you want to get maximum benefits for your health and weight loss, try to purchase a high-quality, natural product.

How to store

After purchasing, you need to take care of how to protect the product from premature deterioration.

What?

Linen bags allow moisture to pass through. Plastic containers interrupt the taste and smell, giving the product its own synthetic-chemical appearance. Plastic bags quickly grow mold. Metal boxes emit oxides and shorten shelf life. So it is not recommended to keep dried apricots in all of the containers listed.

But you can pour it into a glass jar with an airtight lid, cardboard or wooden boxes (but their shelf life is limited to one month), or a tightly closed ceramic container. For freezing, it is recommended to use food foil.

Where there is no direct sunlight and heat. A refrigerator or dark corner of a closet will do just fine.

How many?

If on the shelf - no more than a month. In a dark and cool corner - six months. In the refrigerator - up to 10 months. In the freezer - up to one and a half years.

Helpful advice. If you notice that the dried apricots have become much softer than they were at first, dry them in the oven (50 minutes at 75°C) to prevent the formation of mold.

How much can you eat

The maximum daily intake in the absence of other products in the diet (during a fasting day or when following a mono-diet on dried apricots) is no more than 300 g, divided into smaller portions.

If there are other products on the menu, you can eat no more than 100 g per day.

When losing weight at night, it is better not to eat dried apricots due to their high calorie content. Still, the basis of its nutritional value is, albeit complex. Before going to bed, they may simply not have time to be fully digested and go to the beneficial needs of the body. In this case, they will replenish fat reserves on problem parts of the body.

What can you cook

Uzvar (12 kcal)

Rinse 50 g of dried apples, dried apricots, raisins and prunes in cold water. Pour warm water for an hour, then drain it and fill the dried fruits with new water (3 liters). Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for half an hour. Add granulated sugar to taste (the less, the better). Stir thoroughly. Boil. Remove from heat.

Danish fruit soup (84 kcal)

Rinse 50 g of dried apricots, prunes and dried apples. Place in 2 liters of boiling water, add 2 tsp. Sahara. While the dried fruits are boiling, prepare small dumplings: mix 2 eggs, 100 g of wheat flour, salt and a little water. Use a teaspoon to grab small pieces of dough and throw them into the pan with dried fruits. Add cinnamon on the tip of a knife. After 10 minutes, remove from heat.

Dried apricots are a healthy dried fruit that, when consumed correctly, can promote weight loss. At the same time, it is necessary to coordinate its nutritional value with the daily calorie content of your diet in order to lose, rather than gain, weight. And always remember that long-term mono-diets never lead to anything good.

According to nutritionists, the most common cause of failure during diets, especially with a strict diet, is a lack of glucose and fructose in the blood. The body, not receiving enough sweets, which is prohibited in the vast majority of diets, with the possible exception of and, responds to the prohibitions with fatigue, irritability and stress. Sooner or later, this leads to abandoning the diet and, as a result, weight gain again. Dried fruits, in particular dried apricots for weight loss, will help you avoid this and make even the most strict diet pleasant and easy.

How does dried apricots promote weight loss?

Dried apricots, like many other dried fruits, are very rich in glucose and fructose. Even a small amount of it can compensate for the deficiency of these substances in the blood, satisfying the body’s need for sweets, which makes it indispensable for those who want to lose weight without stress.

At the same time, dried apricots for weight loss do not contain harmful “fast carbohydrates”, which are deposited in the liver and, accumulating, then turn into fat cells. The dietary fiber contained in this dried fruit in huge quantities accelerates saturation, and even by eating just a handful of dried apricots you can suppress hunger for several hours. But the most positive thing about using this analogue of our usual sweets is that dried apricots can not only block hunger, but also remove all the toxins and wastes accumulated there from the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the weight loss process is more intense, and you lose pounds much faster.

Dried apricots are also useful for weight loss due to their high potassium content. This microelement is vital for the normal functioning of the heart, kidneys and liver, but in addition it is involved in water-salt metabolism, bringing the amount of fluid in the body back to normal. Therefore, if one of the causes of excess weight is swelling and congestion, dried apricots will help get rid of these unpleasant phenomena quickly and forever.

Thus, dried apricots are useful for weight loss for three reasons: it removes toxins, eliminates swelling and helps cope with the lack of sweets in the diet.

How to use dried apricots for weight loss?

All the beneficial properties of dried apricots pale in comparison to one of its drawbacks - high calorie content. Just 100 grams of dried fruits can add 200 or even 250 calories. But this is not a reason to deny yourself the pleasure of enjoying your favorite dessert, which is so necessary during long and strict diets.

The main thing, nutritionists say, is to be careful and not to overeat. Therefore, dried apricots are best used in two ways:

as a dessert after breakfast or lunch (it’s better not to eat dried fruits for dinner). Using dried apricots for weight loss in this way, you will prolong the feeling of fullness after a meal, but at the same time avoid overeating.
replace one of the intermediate meals with a handful of dried apricots (but no more!). If you treat yourself to something sweet for lunch or an afternoon snack, it will be easier to endure the diet, and the feeling of hunger will not arise so soon. To prolong satiety, nutritionists recommend drinking a glass of water or a large cup of green tea half an hour after such a snack - the liquid is necessary for the swelling of dietary fiber in the stomach.

Dried apricots for weight loss: what do experts say?

The idea of replacing cakes, sweets and cookies with dried fruits is supported by all specialists in the field of proper and healthy nutrition without exception. After all, their calorie content is still an order of magnitude lower than that of industrially produced sweets, and there is no need to talk about the content of nutrients, vitamins and microelements. But moderation and a common sense approach are good in everything, so you still need to use dried apricots for weight loss carefully.

First of all, those who suffer from any form of diabetes should completely abandon it, since a sharp jump in glucose caused by the consumption of dried fruits can negatively affect their well-being. Also, dried apricots are contraindicated in the presence of serious intestinal disorders and in case of diseases of the excretory system. The potassium salts contained in it have a pronounced diuretic effect, and fiber causes accelerated bowel movements, which can provoke an exacerbation of existing diseases.

In general, dried apricots for weight loss are a great way to relieve stress caused by diet, and at the same time improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and remove swelling. The main thing is to use it carefully, carefully monitoring portion sizes and the total calorie content of food.

Do you use dried apricots during diets? Does it help you reduce your sugar cravings? Write about it in your review!

Dried apricots, also known as apricots, are dried apricot fruits. Like regular apricots, dried apricots have many beneficial properties. First of all, this fruit is a champion in potassium content. That is why it is often recommended to people suffering from heart disease and to all those who need rapid muscle recovery after intense physical activity. Dried apricots for weight loss seem like a dubious idea to many - this dried fruit contains more than 200 kcal per 100 grams of product, sometimes it is sold with artificially sweetened honey or molasses, and many nutritionists advise to be afraid of excess fructose like fire. At the same time, there is a diet with dried apricots. Who to believe?

Diet with dried apricots for weight loss

This diet will help overcome sugar cravings after a low-carb or other restrictive diet. You can practice this diet the next day after overeating, because dried apricots stimulate peristalsis and help cleanse the intestines. Possible side effects of a diet with dried apricots are bloating due to the large amount of fructose, and a strong laxative effect. That is why it is worth taking time on the weekend for a fasting day.

For one day you should take 200 grams of dried apricots. You can divide the specified amount of berries into 4-5 equal servings and eat with tea or water as soon as you feel hungry. Additionally, be sure to drink 2-3 liters of clean water per day to stimulate kidney cleansing.

There is another recipe - grind 300 g of dried apricots and 200 ml of freshly squeezed apricot juice (juice puree) in a blender, eat a small portion every 3 hours, a total of 5 meals a day.

The presented diets are poor in protein, so sticking to them for more than one day means provoking a slowdown in metabolism.

How much dried apricots can you eat?

We often see advice insisting on replacing sugar, sweets and baked goods with dried apricots or other dried fruits. Supposedly, this way the “main evil” will be removed from the diet, and you will naturally lose weight. Is it true? It all depends on the overall diet, the amount of dried apricots and lifestyle in general.

Simply replacing sweets with dried apricots will not help you much if you are used to eating sweets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or rather, replacing the industrial production of goodies with natural ones will allow you to saturate the body with vitamins, but you can’t expect significant calorie savings with this approach.

Reasonable restrictions should be introduced:

– eat dried apricots strictly before 14:00, so that the body has time to use up carbohydrate fuel, and not store it in the liver, with subsequent replenishment of fat reserves;

– get used to unsweetened tea and coffee “without anything”;

– eat dried fruits with one meal, for dessert;

– it’s better if this meal is lunch rather than breakfast, so you can avoid increased appetite before lunch;

– never combine foods such as white bread, white rice, pasta made from refined flour, classic sweets, sweet curds and yoghurts, and dried fruits in one meal;

– adhere to a balanced diet – at least 2 servings of low-fat protein dishes, 2 servings of grains, and 5 servings of vegetables and fruits per day;

– try not to eat more than 20-30 grams of dried apricots per day.

Usually girls complain that they cannot stop after opening a package of delicious orange fruits. It's simple - buy dried fruits in bulk, exactly those 20-30 grams per day. Yes, such bags do cost more, and you have to buy them more often. But sometimes this is the only way not to get carried away with a healthy product and not overeat it. Eat wisely and be healthy!

Especially for – fitness trainer Elena Selivanova

Dried apricots are a valuable product for both weight loss and maintaining health. These orange circles, like little suns, help not only lift your mood, but also make your figure slim. Anyone who has ever been on a diet knows this feeling when you really want something sweet. And it’s not even a matter of habit. It’s just that the body really doesn’t receive the amount of glucose it needs to function normally. The brain is the first to suffer. This is why it is often so difficult to concentrate on something during a diet, memory deteriorates, and irritability appears. Today we will talk about dried apricots for weight loss, what are their benefits in this matter and what are the best ways to lose weight with them.

It is precisely because the body lacks glucose that students and schoolchildren often eat large quantities of chocolate before exams. However, it is not at all necessary to break your diet and run to the store for all kinds of cakes, chocolates and candies. There is an excellent replacement for the usual sweets - dried fruits. Nutritionists believe that among dried fruits, one of the best products for weight loss is dried apricots, that is, dried apricots.

What's the use

If you replace all sweet dishes with dried apricots, you can “kill two birds with one stone.” Firstly, it will help you consume fewer calories, and secondly, dried apricots will have a beneficial effect on the entire body due to its rich composition.

It is known that these dried fruits are very rich in potassium and therefore help normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system. But besides this mineral, dried apricots contain a huge amount of other useful substances. Among them are such useful micro- and macroelements as phosphorus, calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, manganese, magnesium, sodium, copper, chlorine, sulfur, nickel, zinc, etc.

Dried apricots are also rich in carotene, vitamin B and fiber. Often during a diet, the body is depleted, not receiving the full amount of substances it needs. And dried apricots will make up for this deficiency, thereby minimizing the harm from a strict diet.

Regular consumption of dried apricots helps prevent and treat diseases such as anemia, anemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. And very important: dried apricot is even a preventative against malignant tumors.

How dried apricots promote weight loss

Another advantage of dried apricots for weight loss is its nutritional properties. It nourishes the body quite quickly, muffling the feeling of hunger and saturating it with essential nutrients. Of course, this is a fairly high-calorie product. Per 100 g of dried apricots there are approximately 232 kcal. However, this is still less than in sweets or cakes. And you won’t be able to eat a large amount of dried apricots.

The main part of these dried fruits are carbohydrates, which provide the body with the necessary energy and are consumed quickly enough. But there is practically no fat in them. Dried apricots have a sweet taste due to the content of fructose and glucose - sugars that are not harmful to health, but, on the contrary, help the functioning of the brain and the whole body. Dried apricots also have a mild diuretic effect. This allows the body to get rid of excess fluid, which also promotes weight loss. Dried apricots are quite high in fiber. Therefore, it helps cleanse the intestines of deposits and toxins accumulated in it, improves digestion and metabolism, which has a beneficial effect on the process of losing weight.

How can you lose weight with dried apricots?

You can lose weight with dried apricots in different ways. As already mentioned, you can simply replace sweets with these dried fruits. However, you should not overuse dried apricots; nevertheless, their calorie content is quite high. You can also add dried apricots to fruit or vegetable salads, or bake meat or fish with it.

Everyone knows that it is very healthy to eat oatmeal for breakfast. However, many people cannot stand its bland taste. Adding a few dried apricots to the oatmeal porridge will make this dish truly tasty and healthy.

While dieting, it can be very difficult to wait for your next meal. After all, as a rule, food portions are small, and the food itself contains few calories. To make your diet easier, you can snack on a few dried apricots and wash them down with water. However, this is only permissible when on a soft diet, that is, when eating other foods in small quantities is allowed.

Fasting day

To quickly lose a small amount of excess weight and improve your body's health, you can sometimes do fasting days to lose weight on dried apricots. To do this, you need to thoroughly rinse 2 cups of dried apricots, fill it with water and leave overnight. On the morning of the fasting day, you need to drink the water in which the dried apricots lay. Then the fruits should be divided into 6 servings and eaten throughout the day. It is important to drink plenty of liquid on this day - about 3 liters. This can be either simple clean water, or herbal unsweetened teas and still mineral water.

Mono-diet for weight loss

Another way to lose weight using dried apricots is a mono-diet. It lasts 5 days and allows you to get rid of 5 kilograms of excess weight. The main dish of this diet is dried apricot puree. To prepare it, you need to take 300 g of dry dried apricots and rinse it thoroughly; you can soak the fruits in water so that the puree is homogeneous.

Then the dried apricots need to be poured with 0.5 liters of apricot juice and all this should be prepared in a blender. The resulting mass should be divided into 4 parts and eaten throughout the day. The best time to eat is in the morning (immediately after sleep), 11, 14 and 18 hours. Throughout the day you can drink clean water, still mineral water and green tea without sugar. You cannot go on such a diet for more than 5 days. Despite the fact that dried apricots are rich in many useful substances, they cannot provide the body with the entire volume of necessary nutrients and beneficial substances. Longer use of a diet based on dried apricots can lead to malfunctions of the body. Nutritionists also advise eating more protein foods after such a diet.

Recipe for dietary soufflé with dried apricots

Dried apricots will also help if you are already tired of dried fruits and really want delicate sweet desserts. After all, you can cook real culinary masterpieces from it. For example, a soufflé is made from dried apricots; it is also called an air pie. To prepare it, we need 50 g of dried apricots, 1.5 egg whites, 40 g of granulated sugar, a little powdered sugar and just a little butter. Dried apricots need to be washed thoroughly, pour in 1/2 cup of water and cook for about 10 minutes over medium heat. The dried apricots should become soft. Then the dried apricots need to be rubbed through a sieve along with the water remaining after cooking. Pour sugar into the resulting mass and cook the resulting mass over low heat until it thickens. Beat the whites until foamy, pour the hot thickened mixture into them and mix everything. Then you need to grease the frying pan with butter, put the fruit mixture on it and sprinkle powdered sugar on top. The pan should be placed in the oven and baked at a temperature of about 190°C until the souffle has risen and browned on top. This dessert can be served either hot or cooled.

This recipe is designed for one serving weighing 120 g. If you need to prepare a soufflé for several people, then the quantity of each ingredient must be increased. Well, the calorie content of one serving is relatively low - about 220 kcal.

Which dried apricots are suitable for weight loss

Before buying dried apricots, you need to make sure that they are dried naturally, without the use of any harmful substances. Such dried apricots should have a slightly brownish color. If dried fruits have a bright color - yellow, orange or reddish - then most likely they have been treated with some substances to better preserve them or give them a more pronounced taste. Also, dried apricots should not be shiny. Matte dried fruits indicate that they are dried naturally and not processed in any way. Remember that losing weight, first of all, should be healthy. Choose healthy dried apricots.

Dried fruits are considered an essential product for maintaining the proper functioning of the entire human body. Dried fruits also include dried apricots, the benefits of which can be found in this article.

Description of dried apricots and varieties

Dried apricots are dried apricot fruits. At home, to obtain dried apricots, apricots are washed, pitted, dipped in boiling water for one minute (to preserve as many nutrients as possible), placed on a baking sheet and dried in the sun for 8-10 days.

On an industrial scale, apricots are dried in thermostats or ovens, after being pre-treated with chemicals.

The color of dried apricots, dried without the use of chemical additives, is dark orange, the surface is matte, wrinkled. To obtain one kilogram of dried apricots, about 5-6 kilograms of fresh apricots are consumed.

Several types of dried fruits are made from apricots:

dried apricots– apricot halves, dried using special technology;
dried apricots– small apricots, dried with seeds;
kaisa– large whole-fruited apricots, from which the pits have been removed before drying;
ashtak- a whole apricot, with the pit removed, from which the kernel has been removed and put back into the middle of the fruit.

Dried apricots are divided into varieties - table, first, highest and extra. The higher the grade, the better quality the apricots were used for drying.

100 grams of dried apricots contain:

proteins 5.2 g;
fat 0.3 g;
carbohydrates 62.6 g;
dietary fiber (fiber) 7.3 g;
water 30 g;
organic acids – 1.5 g;
ash – 4 g

Dried apricots lead among other dried fruits in potassium content. It also contains a very large number of other macro- and microelements: calcium, sodium magnesium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, zinc, copper and manganese.

Dried apricots contain vitamins necessary for the body: A (beta-carotene), B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B4 (choline), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid ),C(ascorbic acid), E(tocopherol), K(phylloquinone).

The calorie content of dried apricots is 230 – 240 kcal per 100 grams.

How much should you eat per day

It is not recommended for a healthy adult to eat more than 100 grams of dried apricots per day (5-7 medium-sized pieces). In large quantities, this dried fruit can cause increased peristalsis and intestinal irritation.

Thanks to its rich composition, dried apricots have a positive effect on the human body, namely:

reduces cholesterol levels;
is a good source of iron;
acts on the body as a mild laxative (as it contains a lot of pectin and cellulose);
stimulates digestion;
a decoction of dried apricots reduces fever and quenches thirst;
infusion of dried apricots helps with burns, eczema and scabies;
dried apricots contain a lot of potassium, which helps restore heart rhythm;
lowers high blood pressure, so it should be used by hypertensive patients;
dried apricots are a natural antioxidant, help maintain healthy cells and tissues;
helps maintain good vision;
reduces the risk of developing malignant neoplasms;
thanks to the large amount of vitamin K, dried apricots improve blood clotting;
dried apricots are indispensable in the diet of athletes and people with increased physical and mental stress.

Useful properties of dried apricots for women

helps prevent heavy menstrual bleeding;
strengthens nails, teeth, hair and bones;
moisturizes the skin, makes it smooth and elastic;
has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the urinary system;
due to the large amount of antioxidants, it is considered an excellent anti-cancer agent;
normalizes the functioning of the reproductive system, prevents and treats infertility;
restores the proper functioning of the endocrine system.

Dried apricots will help saturate the expectant mother’s body with all the necessary vitamins and microelements, which will flow through the placenta to the baby and ensure its proper development.

Pregnant women should eat dried apricots every day, as they have a positive effect on the body and reduce the occurrence of unpleasant moments of pregnancy:

prevents anemia;
fights vitamin deficiency;
facilitates the manifestation of toxicosis;
Having a laxative effect, it helps to cope with constipation;
helps normalize digestion and eliminate heartburn;
normalizes blood pressure;
strengthens the immune system;
has a diuretic effect, which is very helpful for swelling;
prevents tooth enamel from deteriorating;
strengthens hair and nails.

For swelling The best diuretic is considered to be a decoction of dried apricots.

Ingredients:

0.5 kg dried apricots;
2 liters of water.

Preparation:

Pour water over the dried apricots and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.
Cover with a lid and leave for about an hour.

Drink 1 glass three times a day.

For constipation Compote of prunes and dried apricots will have a laxative effect.

Ingredients:

150 g dried apricots;
110 g prunes;
50 g granulated sugar;
2 liters of water.

Preparation:

Pour boiling water over dried fruits for 15 minutes.
Drain the water, rinse the dried fruits well and cover with cold water, add granulated sugar.
Bring to a boil, simmer over low heat for 7 minutes.
Cover with a lid and leave for one hour.

Drink 1 glass in the morning and evening.

The benefits of dried apricots for men

Dried apricots also have a beneficial effect on men's health:

supports heart function and prevents muscle cramps;
serves as a prevention of urological diseases (impotence, prostatitis);
promotes testosterone production;
normalizes blood pressure;
improves blood circulation in the genitals, improves potency;
cleanses blood vessels.

Dishes with the addition of dried apricots can be offered to a child as early as six months. If a child has an allergic reaction to dried fruits, then dried apricots should be given no earlier than three years of age.

Dried apricots are introduced into the child’s diet in the form of puree, starting with half a teaspoon, and carefully observing the reaction of the little body to the new product. Over time, the portion is increased to 50 grams per day.

For children from one year old, dried apricots are offered in grated form, adding to porridge and cottage cheese. Due to the high sugar content, dried apricot compotes are not recommended for children under three years of age.

Introducing dried apricots into a child’s diet will help:

increase hemoglobin;
strengthen the immune system;
and also normalize stool and relieve constipation;
Dried apricots help improve brain function, help cope with stressful situations and improve memory.

Schoolchildren, in the absence of an allergic reaction to the product, can be given up to 100 g of dried apricots per day.

Children from 6 months can be offered fruit puree with dried apricots as their first complementary food.

Ingredients:

1 pear;
30 g dried apricots;
water.

Preparation:

Wash the fruits, peel them and chop finely.
Wash dried apricots and cut into strips.
Place the ingredients in a saucepan, add water and simmer for five minutes.
Grind the resulting mixture with a blender.

Porridge with dried apricots and apple

For children from 8 months old, you can prepare porridge with dried apricots and apples.

Ingredients:

one apple;
5 pieces. dried apricots;
2 tbsp. l. porridge.

Preparation:

Peel the apples, remove the core, cut into small cubes, add dried apricots, add water (so that it just covers the fruit) and boil for 5 minutes.
Drain the water and grind the fruit to a puree consistency.
Prepare baby (rice, oat or buckwheat) porridge in any way, add chopped fruit.

For constipation

To treat and prevent constipation, you should consume the following mixture of dried fruits and honey:

100 g each of dried apricots, raisins, prunes and;
2 tbsp. spoons of honey.

Pour boiling water over dried fruits and leave for 12 hours. Next, drain the water, grind the mixture in a blender, add honey. Use 1-1.5 tsp. three times a day for 1-2 weeks. After a month, repeat the course.

For diabetes

Diabetics are recommended to eat no more than 5 pieces of dried apricots per day, adding them to various dishes. For example, you can eat this type of dessert: add a few pieces of chopped dried apricots to a pack of cottage cheese and mix. Consume during breakfast.

A vitamin mixture of dried fruits will help increase the body's defenses, especially in the autumn-winter period:

250 g dried apricots;
150 g of prunes and;
2.5 tbsp. spoons of honey.

Grind dried fruits, add honey, mix. Take 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day.

For gastrointestinal problems

Compote of dried apricots with the addition of raisins helps normalize digestion and restores the normal functioning of the liver.

To prepare compote take:

250 g of dried apricots and raisins;
2 liters of water;
3 tbsp. spoons of sugar.

Rinse dried fruits well and soak in warm water for 15 minutes. Add sugar, bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Drink 1 glass three times a day.

For stress

For the proper functioning of the nervous system, restoration of the body after severe stress and elimination of insomnia, it is worth using the following remedy:

Soak 5 pieces of dried apricots in cold water for 12 hours. Next, bring to a boil and cool. Drink the decoction in small sips throughout the day, and eat one piece of dried apricots half an hour before meals.

To maintain heart function and restore vascular patency, it is worth consuming the following mixture:

3 lemons;
100 g each of rose hips and hawthorn fruits;
200 g each of walnuts and prunes;
150 g raisins;
250 g dried apricots;
3 tbsp. spoons of honey.

Grind all ingredients in a blender, add honey at the end. Place in the refrigerator for ten days. Take 1 tbsp on an empty stomach. spoon until the mixture runs out, then take a break for two weeks.

For gout

The following remedy will help relieve pain, remove uric acid salts and normalize metabolism in the body:

200 g dried apricots;
100 g sunflower seeds;
5 tbsp. spoons of oatmeal;

Grind all the ingredients, roll into a sausage, place in the refrigerator for three hours, then cut into small slices. Use as a healthy dessert.

For joint pain

In order to get rid of crunches and pain in joints and ligaments, you should use the following mixture:

100 g dried apricots;
50 g each of raisins and walnuts;
2 tbsp. spoons of honey;
1 lemon;
250 g fresh or frozen raspberries.

Place the ingredients in a blender and grind. Use 2 tbsp. spoons three times a day.

In cosmetology, dried apricots are used to prepare various masks that help improve the condition of the skin and hair.

Anti-wrinkle mask

Ingredients:

3 pcs. dried apricots;
10 g pumpkin seeds;
2 tbsp. spoons of kefir.

Grind dried apricots and seeds, add kefir heated in a water bath, stir. Apply to facial skin for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

A mask of dried apricots and orange juice will help make your skin soft and velvety..

Ingredients:

5 pieces. dried apricots;
1 yolk;
1 tbsp. spoon r. oils;
1 teaspoon honey;
1.5 tbsp. spoons of orange juice.

Grind the dried apricots in a blender, add the yolk, r. oil, honey and juice, mix well. Apply the mixture to your face for 15-20 minutes.

To give your hair shine and softness, you can use a mask of dried apricots and honey.

Ingredients:

100 g dried apricots;
3 tbsp. spoons of honey;
50 ml water.

Pour boiling water over dried apricots for 15 minutes, chop, add honey. Apply to hair roots for 30 minutes. Wash off with herbal decoction.

Beneficial properties of dried apricots for weight loss:

helps to quickly satisfy hunger;
can be used as a sweetener;
thanks to the large amount of fiber, it helps cleanse the intestines and improve metabolism;
fills the body with useful vitamins and minerals.

Dried apricots can be consumed by adding to various dietary dishes. You can also arrange fasting days, eating only dried apricots, mineral water and herbal teas. You can use dried apricots as a healthy snack. Just 5-7 pieces of dried apricots can replace a full breakfast or afternoon snack.

Dietary recipes

Cocktail with dried apricots

Soak dried apricots (5-6 pieces) in hot water for 30 minutes. Drain the water, grind the dried apricots in a blender, add apple juice (150 ml) and unsweetened yogurt (100 ml). Mix all ingredients. This cocktail can be consumed instead of breakfast.

Dried apricot salad

6 pcs. dried apricots;
one small carrot (100 grams);
one (100-120 grams);
lemon juice (to taste).

Soak dried apricots for 15-20 minutes and chop. Boil carrots and beets, grate on a coarse grater. Mix with dried apricots, add lemon juice and stir.

Detox drink

Take 300 grams of dried apricots, soak in hot water. Grind to a puree consistency, add 0.5 liters of apricot juice, stir. Drink in portions, divided into 4 doses per day.

The benefits of dried apricots for weight loss. Dried apricots versus candies - video

Tea with dried apricots

50 g dried apricots;
1 liter of water;
2 teaspoons of green tea;
1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Preparation:

Wash dried apricots, cut into small cubes, pour boiling water.
After 1-2 minutes, add green tea and lemon juice.
Leave for 3-4 minutes.

This tea will give you energy and strength for the whole day.

Drink with dried apricots and ginger

30 g dried apricots;
piece (about 1 cm);
0.5 l of water;
1 teaspoon honey;
A few slices of lemon or lime.

Preparation:

Cut dried apricots into thin strips.
Peel the ginger and cut into thin slices.
Place ginger and dried apricots in a teapot and pour boiling water over them.
Leave for about 5 minutes, pour into cups, when it cools to 60 degrees, add honey and a slice of lemon.

This drink will help strengthen your immune system in the autumn-winter season.

What a good dried apricot should be like:

The color of properly dried dried apricots (without the use of chemical components) should be dark orange or brown.
The surface of the fruit should be wrinkled, opaque, matte, and somewhat dusty.
Good dried fruits should be crumbly, not sticky, and free of mold and insects.
Good dried fruits should feel firm and firm to the touch, not too soft or sticky.
There should be no foreign odors or unpleasant taste.
Dried apricots should not have shine. A glossy sheen will mean that the dried fruit has been rubbed with oil or glycerin.

It is not enough to know how to choose good dried apricots; it is equally important to know how to store them correctly.

Rules for storing dried fruit:

Dryness. Dried apricots must be stored in a dry place. With high humidity, dried apricots will very quickly become moldy.
Cool. Dried apricots should be stored in a cool place. At elevated air temperatures, dried apricots become hard and lose their nutritional qualities. The optimal temperature for storing dried apricots is considered to be no higher than +20 degrees.
Darkness. Under the influence of sunlight, all the vitamins contained in dried apricots are destroyed.

To store dried apricots, it is better to choose a glass container with a well-closing lid.

Contraindications

Dried apricots have the following contraindications for use:

hypotension;
individual intolerance to apricots;
obesity;
chronic pathology of the digestive tract;

People who suffer from diabetes should consume sweet dried apricots with restrictions (no more than 5 pieces per day).

Dried apricots: beneficial properties - video

Apricot. Dried apricots. Dried apricots. Useful properties of dried apricots - video

Dried apricots are an affordable, healthy and very tasty product that will help fill the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, and will also delight you with a pleasant taste and aroma.