Apricot fruit benefits

The apricots are delicious fruits and are good for health, they are real natural remedies for certain ailments. Do you know how to use them and what benefits bring the body? Been contraindications?
Apricots: general characteristics and trivia

•     The apricot is the fruit of the Prunus armeniaca of the Rosaceae family;

•     It 'a plant native to China and has 5000 years according to the hypothesis;

•     Probably named Armenia (armeniaca) where apparently was discovered by Alexander the Great and named "Armenian apple";

•     Arrival in Greece and Italy around 60 BC

•     The etymology of the word comes from the apricot-Barquq (early, translated into Latin by precocus) as were the Arabs to expand trade throughout the Mediterranean;

•     Early the name was given because the tree begins to bear fruit from the second year of life;

•     The tree bears fruit from June to July;

•     The Apricot is not a quality of this fruit but the graft between an apricot and a pear tree;

•     Apricots off season come mostly from Chile and New Zealand;

•     When you buy this fruit It must have hard and not soft, fragrant and a beautiful orange color. The educated apricot half hardly ripen unripe. They can be kept in the refrigerator up to a week;

•     Dried apricots are more caloric, attention to those of a beautiful orange color are treated with dyes such as sulfur dioxide, better to prefer those biodynamic;

•     Even in syrup Apricots it is very caloric so you do not add sugar;

•     It is not recommended for those suffering from calculations and for those allergic to plums, peaches and cherries;

•     Chinese women considered them a symbol of fertility. 

Apricots: properties, nutritional value, calories

The apricot is a casket that holds many useful nutrients to the body's health.

Here is what are the properties of apricots:

• antioxidant, especially this fruit is an ally of the skin, hair and gums thanks to the wealth of vitamins, especially A and C;

• It protects bones and teeth by the time injury;

•     It stimulates and strengthens the immune system;

•     It strengthens muscles and counteracts muscle cramps due to the good potassium content;

•     It improves the absorption of iron in the body, for so much recommended for those suffering from anemia;

•     It improves stress, fatigue, depression and tension;

•     It improves the function of the nervous system but also protect from the ravages of time;

•     protect eyesight from the damage of free radicals;

•     strengthen the cardiovascular system;

•     antitumor, as it prevents the formation of tumors of the larynx, esophagus and lung;

•     It helps to regulate blood pressure through iron and potassium;

•     moderate laxative effects thanks to the presence of fibers;

•     It helps control cholesterol levels in the blood;

•     It stimulates the production of melanin and is therefore a fruit ally tanning;

•     It contributes to the proper functioning of the digestive system, so very useful against slow digestion.

•     Tools for treatment as they help the body get rid of toxins;

What's apricot?

That's what its nutritional values:

    48 calories per 100 g
    Lipids 0,4 g
    Cholesterol 0 mg
    Sodium 1 mg
    Potassium 259 mg
    11 g carbohydrates
    Dietary fiber 2 g
    9 g sugar
    Protein 1.4 g
    Vitamin C 10 mg
    Calcium 13 mg
    Iron 0.39 mg
    Magnesium 10 mg
    Copper 0.078 mg
    Vitamin A 1094 mcg

Also apricots contain:

•     vitamins (E, K, J, PP, B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6)

•     antioxidants (quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin)

•     amino acids (aspartic and glutamic acid, alanine, arginine, cystine, glycine, phenylalanine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, proline, methionine, serine, tyrosine, tryptophan, valine and threonine) 

Apricots: all uses

How you can benefit from the properties of apricots, as well as eating them? You can of course make masks and body wraps.
nourishing hair mask:

Blend the pulp of a dozen pitted apricots, add two tablespoons of olive oil, one egg yolk and the pulp of an avocado milkshake. Keep posing one hour and then proceed with the shampoo.

draining compress against cellulite:

Whisk 8 apricots pitted, add 3 tablespoons of sweet almond oil, salt to taste, three drops of essential oil of rose hip. Apply on thighs and buttocks with the help of plastic wrap.
Illuminating Facial Mask:

Blend the pulp of 4 apricots pitted, half a cucumber, mix with rice flour to taste and mix with two tablespoons of honey. Hold on for 15 minutes.
toning and moisturizing mask:

Mix the pureed pulp of apricots 4 with one half pureed peach. Add orange juice and taste of oatmeal. Hold for 20 minutes.

What do you think of the natural remedies beauty with apricots?
Apricots: contraindications and side effects

Generally, the apricots do not have particular contraindications or side effects, however, there are at least two cases in which the fruit to be consumed with moderation, in order to avoid annoying interference:

    not recommended for those suffering from kidney stones or diseases as rich in oxalic acid;
    Also not recommended for those suffering from ulcers and colitis.

Apricots can also trigger allergic reactions with skin symptoms.

WARNING: the kernel should not be ingested because it contains cyanide.