Fall is here, and you know what that means: pumpkins! Autumn brings with it a bumper crop of delicious seasonal fruits like pumpkins and persimmons. The fall season is also the humble pear’s time to shine: this is when this small, delicious fruit is at peak ripeness. Pears aren’t just soft and sweet treats: they’re dense with nutrients and healthy content. Read on as we break down the power of pears in our latest Wellness Wednesday.
Good For Your Gut
Looking to add more fiber to your diet? Pears are packed with soluble and insoluble fiber (soluble fiber dissolves in water while insoluble does not). These types of dietary fiber are essential for digestive fiber because they soften your stool, support regular bowel movements, and act as a food source for the good bacteria residing in your large intestine. One medium-sized pear contains 6 grams of fiber, which accounts for about 21% of your daily fiber needs.
Relieves Constipation
If you’re feeling plugged up, a pear could get things moving again. Pears are high in water, which helps ease digestion and prevent constipation. They are also rich in pectin, a type of fiber that studies have found provides constipation relief.
Highly Nutritious
Pears contain a wide spread of vitamins and minerals. They are an excellent (and tasty) way to supplement your daily nutritional intake. Pears are full of:
- Fiber
- Protein
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
- Carbs
- Copper
- Niacin
- Folate
- Provitamin A
Make sure to eat the skin of the pear, too, as they contain a bunch of polyphenol antioxidants. Antioxidants can help reduce inflammation, protect your skin from UV damage, improve cognitive function, and slow down age-related deterioration.
Heart Healthy
An apple a day keeps the doctor away; a pear a day could keep heart disease at bay. Pears get their distinctive hues from anthocyanins, plant compounds that give pears their vibrant colors. Research has found that these compounds may improve heart health and protect against cancer.
Sharpens Vision
Green pears give you a little something extra: better eye health! The green skins of pears are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin. These are two plant compounds that have a beneficial effect on human vision. If you spend a lot of time on the computer, you should add the occasional green pear to your diet: lutein acts as a natural sunblock, absorbing excess light that hits your eye. That light absorption includes the blue light generated from screens which can weaken your eyes over time without protection.
Article by Austin Brietta
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