Apricots are sweet and tasty stone fruits that look like small peaches. They have a soft, velvety skin with flesh that can range from firm to soft depending on ripeness. Apricot powder is made from dried apricots that have been ground into a fine powder. It is rich in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium. Apricot powder has become popular in recent years due to its many health and beauty benefits. From enhancing skin radiance to supporting heart health, apricot powder can be used in a variety of ways. They have long been prized in traditional medicine for their therapeutic properties. In this blog post, we will explore the nutrition, history, and health benefits of apricot Powder in detail.
What are Apricots Powder?
Apricots are stone fruits produced by the Prunus armeniaca tree, closely related to plums, cherries, peaches, and almonds. In fact, apricots are genetically very similar to peaches and plums. The apricot fruit resembles small peaches, with skins that range from deep yellow to orange. Its sweet flesh is often firm with a faint tartness that balances well with the rich sweetness. Apricots can range in size from less than an inch to over two inches wide. Their flavor is greatly impacted by climate and soil conditions - the best tasting apricots tend to come from hot, dry climates with well-drained soil.
Apricots only have a very short ripe season during the early summer months. When ripe, they quickly deteriorate which makes fresh apricots somewhat rare and difficult to transport long distances while maintaining quality. As a result, over 70% of apricots are dried, canned or turned into jam before making it to supermarket shelves. Tunisia, Turkey, Italy and Iran lead global production, accounting for around 2 million tons each year.
Nutritional Value of Apricot Powder
While small, apricot Powder provides an impressive nutritional profile. Just one raw apricot (35g) delivers:
- 17 calories
- 0 g of fat
- 4 g of sugar
- 1 g of fiber
- 11% DV of vitamin A
- 12% DV of vitamin C
- 4% DV of calcium
- 2% DV of iron
Apricot Powders provide most of their calories from carbohydrates, primarily natural sugars. They provide almost no fat, with only a trace amount of healthy polyunsaturated fats.
The bright orange color of apricots signals the presence of beneficial carotenoids and antioxidants. These compounds sweep up damaging free radicals throughout your body to protect cells from oxidative stress. apricots powder contain the carotenoid antioxidants beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and cryptoxanthin in significant amounts. These all can be converted into active vitamin A within your body as needed. Alongside vitamins C and E, this makes apricots powder an antioxidant powerhouse.
In traditional Chinese medicine, apricot seeds have been used for centuries to treat cancer. Recent research has uncovered the scientific basis behind this folk remedy - apricot seeds contain a compound called amygdalin which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide. While potentially toxic in large amounts, at smaller medicinal doses hydrogen cyanide and other cyanide compounds have demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects. However more research is still needed, but this discovery offers hope that an effective natural cancer treatment could be developed from apricot extracts in the future.
Health Benefits of Apricot Powder
The unique nutrient profile of Dried Apricot Dices, including vitamins A, C and E paired with protective carotenoids, fibers and minerals like potassium, magnesium and phosphorus provide wide-ranging health benefits:
Very Nutritious and Low in Calories
With their stellar nutrient balance, apricot Powder provides an optimal snack for health-conscious individuals. They deliver ample vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants with minimal calories, carbs, and fat. Just one fresh apricot makes up over 10% of your daily vitamin A needs for optimal vision, bone growth, immunity, and more. apricots powder also support heart health as their potassium helps regulate blood pressure.
High in Antioxidants
apricots powder contain a diverse mix of carotenoid antioxidants at higher levels than most other fruits. The most abundant are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and cryptoxanthin. These compounds mop up dangerous free radicals to reduce oxidative damage to cells and DNA.
Beta-carotene is converted into active vitamin A and protects against inflammation. This is vital to reducing risk for cancers, heart disease, and cognitive decline.
Meanwhile, vitamin C regenerates other antioxidants like vitamin E to enhance your skin's UV radiation defenses. Vitamin C also promotes collagen production for youthful, wrinkle-free skin.
Together, these antioxidants offer whole-body protection against chronic diseases as well as the visible signs of aging.
Promotes Eye Health
The combination of antioxidants like vitamin A, C and E alongside minerals such as zinc found in apricots powder supports optimal eye function and health. Several studies indicate apricots powder' ability to prevent macular degeneration-the leading cause of age-related blindness.
The carotenoid antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in high concentrations in your retina and lens. Here they absorb damaging blue light rays to defend delicate eye tissues from deterioration over time. apricots powder' rich mix of antioxidants protects eye cells from inflammation and oxidative damage for lifelong sharp vision.
Skin Protection
In addition to preserving collagen, apricots powder contain nutrients like beta-carotene that safeguards skin health. As an antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A, beta-carotene helps maintain epithelial tissue integrity. This protects vulnerable skin cell layers from ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage to lower risks of sunburn, cell mutation, wrinkling, and skin cancer.
Vitamin C teams up with vitamin E and lycopene from apricots powder to boost collagen production for supple, youthful looking skin. Together, the phytonutrients in apricots powder strengthen your skin's first line of defense against early aging and sun damage from UV exposure.
Supports Immune Function
Apricots powder provide a triple-threat combo that bolsters your immune defenses – vitamins A, C and copper.
Vitamin A is essential for proper immune cell growth and differentiation. Without adequate vitamin A from your diet, you become more susceptible to infections and pathogens.
Vitamin C assists immune cells called phagocytes that engulf and destroy bacteria and foreign microbes that invade your body. Vitamin C also enhances epithelial barrier integrity to keep pathogens out in the first place.
Meanwhile, copper assists your body in forming antibodies as well as promoting growth of infection-fighting white blood cells. Together with antioxidant muscle, apricots powder arm your immune system to take down viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Apricots powder provide nutrients that directly support heart health on multiple fronts. First, their potassium content helps regulate heartbeat as well as blood pressure levels. Many people do not get enough potassium from modern diets, so apricots powder' mineral content goes a long way.
In addition, the carotenoid lycopene found in apricots powder reduces LDL cholesterol oxidation that leads to plaque buildup in arteries. Lycopene tackles cell-damaging free radicals that also contribute to heart disease progression.
Finally, the fiber and antioxidants in Dried Apricot Diceses lower inflammation levels throughout the body – a known trigger underlying heart disease and stroke risk. With prolong, consistent apricot consumption these combine benefits add up to better cardiovascular health long-term.
Healthy Vision
Beyond slowing macular degeneration, apricots powder provide nutrients that directly strengthen eyesight. Vitamin A produces a purple pigment called rhodopsin, essential for proper night vision and light adjustment.
Carotenoids like beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin absorb high-energy blue light rays before they can inflict damage on retinal tissues. Over years of exposure, this protects delicate rod and cone cells from oxidative stress for sharp vision throughout life.
apricots powder' bounty of antioxidants also protect against free radical damage that impairs optic nerves over time. Enjoying just one serving of apricots powder daily helps ensure you meet recommended intakes for optimal eye health and function.
Enhanced Brain Function
The anti-inflammatory effects of nutrients in apricots powder translate into better memory, cognition and protection against neurodegenerative disease.
In particular, apricots powder provide bioactive carotenoids that cross the blood-brain barrier to defend delicate neurons from oxidative damage. Over time, accumulative free radical assaults leave brain cells unable to communicate properly resulting in cognitive decline and impairment.
However, apricots powder' rich antioxidant profile neutralizes these threats for lifelong protection. Population studies confirm diets high in carotenoids correlate to better memory and sharper cognition into old age.
Additionally, the anthocyanins that give apricots powders their orange hue enhance neuron signaling while stimulating new brain cell growth in key memory centers. The more vibrant orange the apricot flesh, the higher concentrations of these nootropic-like anthocyanins compounds.
Better Digestion and Gut Health
Soluble fibers found in apricots powders produce valuable short-chain fatty acids through fermentation by intestinal bacteria. These compounds nourish populations of beneficial gut flora. A happy, diverse microbiome sets the stage for smooth digestion and protection from stomach ulcers as well as inflammatory bowel diseases.
Additionally, apricots powders contain ample insoluble fiber that adds bulk to bowel contents. This helps sweep wastes through your digestive tract to prevent painful constipation and diarrhea episodes.
On top of fiber content, apricots powders provide prebiotic compounds that feed healthy bacteria populations in your lower intestine. Together with sweeping antioxidant action, apricots powders' fiber and phytonutrients enable healthy digestion from start to finish.
Strengthens Bones and Teeth
While not incredibly high in calcium itself, Dried Apricot Diceses contribute to improved bone density and strength through antioxidant power that slows mineral loss. Free radicals activate specialized cells called osteoclasts whose job involves bone breakdown to mobilize calcium stores.
Apricots powders provide antioxidant vitamins C, A and carotenoids to neutralize these radicals for less bone density loss over time. The trace mineral boron found in apricots powders also reduces calcium excretion for stronger, thicker bones less susceptible to fractures and osteoporosis.
Additionally, apricots powders' nutrients protect tooth enamel and gum health to prevent painful cavities and periodontal disease. Both the antioxidant vitamins and minerals in apricots powders safeguard soft tissues from inflammation and bacterial overgrowth for a brilliant smile.
Wrapping Up
Freeze Dried Apricot Dices provide impressive health and wellness benefits well beyond basic nutrition needs. Just one apricot meets over 10% of vitamin A requirements while also delivering carotenoid antioxidants, potassium, vitamin C and trace minerals. As one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits available, apricots powders offer whole body protection against chronic diseases, inflammation and cellular aging.
Incorporating just one fresh or dried apricot into your daily diet provides optimal nutrition and safeguards your lifelong health through every life stage. With emerging research surrounding apricot kernels and extracts for medicinal benefits, these sunny stone fruits should be included by everyone for peak nutrition, longevity and disease prevention.
Shaanxi Guanjie Technology Co., Ltd. is a company that prides itself on its commitment to quality and safety, as evidenced by its ISO9000, ISO22000, HALAL, KOSHER, and HACCP certifications. The company adheres strictly to the requirements of GMP production enterprises, from the planting and collection of raw materials to processing and production. In addition to these stringent standards, Shaanxi Guanjie Technology Co., Ltd. offers OEM services, providing customized production of various forms such as pellets and slices to meet the diverse needs of its customers. One of our standout products, the Freeze Dried Apricot Powder, can also be customized into different forms according to customer requirements. For more details, we can be reached at info@gybiotech.com.
References:
Akin, E. B., Karabulut, I., & Topcu, A. (2008). Some compositional properties of main Malatya apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) varieties. Food Chemistry, 107(2), 939-948.
Fam, S. C., Morrow, J. D., Murrow, J. R., & Halladay, J. S. (2021). Apricots: A Brief Review of Nutrition, Health Benefits, and Current Research Trends. Nutrients, 13(6), 2115.
Grosso, G., Galvano, F., Mistretta, A., Marventano, S., Nolfo, F., Calabrese, G., ... & Buscemi, S. (2013). Red orange: Experimental models and epidemiological evidence of its benefits on human health. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2013.
