What are the health benefits of pears?
Answer
The beauty of pears is more than just skin deep.
This is a fruit with a healthy personality, too – the kind of fruit you want to have around all the time. That they are luscious and satisfying goes without question. But pears also possess these fine nutritional points:
- Low in calories
- Contain no fat, cholesterol or sodium
- A delicious source of energy (carbohydrates)
- High in fiber
- A good source of vitamin C
- Contain natural antioxidants
And that’s just the basics. There’s more to tell.
1 medium pear has 100 calories; 0 fat; 0 cholesterol; 0 sodium; 26g CHO (6 g fiber; 16g sugar); 10% vitamin C; 2% calcium; 190 mg potassium.
Soluble fiber has also been associated with lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation. While short-term inflammation is part of the body’s natural defenses and critical to healing from injuries or infections, it is not good for the body to remain in this state, known as chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is extremely damaging and considered the root of many diseases including heart disease among others.
Soluble fiber also helps to slow the absorption of carbohydrates which may help people with diabetes in controlling their blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting the body’s ability to secrete insulin and use blood sugar for energy. A key component of managing diabetes is to control blood sugar levels, and slower absorption of carbohydrates is very beneficial.
Insoluble fiber helps maintain a healthy GI tract by moving foods through the body efficiently. Fiber in general helps promote satiety, or a feeling of fullness, which can be helpful in weight loss or weight maintenance efforts. A diet that includes insoluble fiber has also been associated with a reduced risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Now here’s the beauty part: Pears contain a mix of both soluble and insoluble fiber, offering a total of 6 grams of fiber in just one medium-size pear. That makes pears one of the top food choices for fiber. Just one pear each day gets you well on your way!
