What dried fruits are healthier? Types of dried fruits and their names.

Hello dear readers. Dried fruits are not only a very tasty product, but also an incredibly valuable nutritional element. A huge amount of vitamins and minerals, useful fibers and fiber - this is only a tenth of the useful components of dried fruits.

Dried fruits will never replace fresh fruits, but they can be a good substitute if you live in a climate zone where certain types of fruits and vegetables do not grow. Or out of season for fresh fruit. This material will address the main issues related to the product, which has been causing heated discussions among nutritionists for many years.

The most useful dried fruits for men

The role of a man in the world around him is to bear the burden of caring for his family and his loved ones. Constant stress and rapid movement leads to exhaustion of the body, reduces potency, leads to depression. In this case, dried fruits can help get out of distress and patch up an exhausted body a little.

A real panacea for men's problems will be such a dried fruit as dried apricots.
Dried apricots are a natural source of vitamin E, which stimulates the production of testosterone in the male body. The fruits also contain a large amount of potassium and magnesium, a sufficient concentration of which can protect a man from heart disease and fatigue.

It is enough to add 30-50 grams of dried apricots to the morning breakfast, and you will forget about the problems with the exhaustion of the nervous system, the weakening of the reproductive function and the lack of vital trace elements.

The most useful dried fruits for women

A huge number of worries are assigned to a modern woman today. As a mother and housewife, many women are forced to work and earn money. In this regard, the female body is subjected to enormous loads and requires mandatory vitamin supplementation with food. Dried fruits will help in strengthening the female body in a very obvious way.

Dried fruits during pregnancy

During the bearing of a child, a woman is subject to a special load. Her immunity is especially weakened, the cardiovascular system is overloaded, and even the gastrointestinal tract suffers, because the body throws all its forces into bearing a child.
An excellent way to slightly strengthen the female body will be the consumption of dried dates.

Dates contain a large amount of extremely useful indigestible dietary fiber that stabilizes and harmonizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract, a large amount of B and E vitamins will breathe new strength and energy into a woman. Potassium and magnesium contained in dried dates will support the cardiovascular system and allow the body to work in a more gentle mode.

Dried fruits during lactation

During breastfeeding, you need a complete and proper diet, saturated with a large amount of vitamins, useful particles and trace elements.
When feeding a child, any dried fruit is suitable for eating, but dried bananas will be especially useful. The abundance of zinc, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium make dried bananas a tool that will improve metabolic processes in the body of a nursing mother, as well as stabilize the nervous system and improve sleep.

The most useful dried fruits for weight loss

Losing weight is a complex and sequential process. The key to losing weight is a balanced diet. In terms of losing weight, a person should limit himself to the consumption of sugar and many tasty foods. However, with the complete rejection of sugar, a person acquires a slow metabolism and a brain suffering without glucose.

Due to the fact that we cannot completely refuse sugar, we should choose the most useful product containing sugar. These foods include dried fruits.

Raisins are a fairly high-calorie product, because in fact they are ordinary dried grapes, which are famous for their calorie content.

In this regard, raisin diets and unlimited consumption of raisins in an attempt to lose weight will only lead to a set of unhealthy body weight. However, adding raisins to a weight loss diet can saturate the body with essential vitamins A, B and E, as well as enrich with potassium, magnesium and zinc, which support the functioning of the heart and nervous system.

Prunes for weight loss

Prunes are a good help in losing weight.
It contains:

- Natural antioxidants that will be useful in combating oxidative processes in the body, strengthen immunity and speed up metabolic processes;
- Iron in high concentration. Absolutely every person suffers from iron deficiency anemia, they don’t even know about it, 99% of the population lacks iron in their blood. In this regard, the use of prunes in food normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract, balances the composition of the blood and catalyzes the processes of hematopoiesis;
- Alimentary fiber. Prunes are rich in fiber and hard dietary fiber. While a protein-carbohydrate diet inevitably leads to constipation and slagging of the intestines during weight loss, healthy dietary fibers have a laxative effect and cleanse the intestines of toxins formed during the diet.

Dried fruit compote benefit or harm

Since childhood, each of us has been familiar with the taste of dried fruit compote, a sweetish-tart taste and apple slices floating at the bottom of a glass. Today, the assortment of dried fruits is not limited to dried apples, and compote can be cooked from anything, depending on taste preferences.

What is the use of dried fruit compote

1. This product is diabetic. The destruction of sugar during cooking allows diabetics to consume a delicious drink without worrying about their health.
2. Dried fruit compote is saturated with useful substances that will help people with low hemoglobin.
3. Compote improves mood and stimulates the production of endorphins in humans.
The harm of compote is based on the characteristics of the negative impact of the dried fruits themselves.

First, these products are very high in calories. Secondly, dried fruits must be able to choose the right one. For example, the bright orange dried apricots that we see in the store are most likely treated with sulfur dioxide and dried by a chemical reaction.

Properly dried dried apricots should be light orange, dull and dull in color. It is recommended to cook dried fruits on your own or learn how to choose them correctly so as not to feel all the harmful effects of chemical processing.

Thirdly, dried fruits are not a hypoallergenic product. If you are allergic to any type of fruit, then it is likely that you will experience all the delights of an allergic reaction when consuming compote from an allergen.

For proper storage of dried fruits, you should build on a few rules below.

1. Do not buy dried fruits for the future. The average shelf life of dried fruits bought by weight is no more than a year. In this regard, it is not recommended to make large stocks of dried fruits, because you simply will not have time to eat them or, even worse, you will be doomed to store a large amount of spoiled food.

2. Store dried fruits in a dry and cool place.
The high sugar content of dried fruits makes them an excellent target for mold spores to develop. In this regard, the place where the healing product is stored should be cool and with no moisture, so as not to find a new pet in your bedside table in the form of an overgrown mold fungus.

3. Store different types of dried fruits exclusively separately from each other. It is important to remember that all dried fruits have a different moisture index. That is, by combining dried fruits in one container, after 1-2 weeks you will find a hopelessly spoiled lump that does not resemble purchased products.

4. Dry dried fruits in the oven before storing. If you want to keep your dried fruits for as long as possible, we recommend that you wash the purchased fruits before storage, and then dry the dried fruits on the smallest fire. This action will save the fruits from excess moisture and allow you to save dried fruits for as long as possible.

How many dried fruits can you eat per day

Despite the great benefits of dried fruits, they are still quite a heavy product. A person who arranges dried fruit snacks for himself should definitely remember that by consuming a product with such a large amount of dietary fiber, he loads the pancreas and intestines. There are cases when overeating dried fruits caused serious intestinal obstruction.
In this regard, it is recommended to consume no more than 50-100 grams of dried fruits per day, which is 150-250 kcal.

Harm of dried fruits

Dried fruits are a real natural vitamin complex and in themselves do not pose any harm. However, improper handling, storage or transportation can lead to the formation of fungal or mold colonies, which will lead to harm to the body rather than benefit.

As mentioned earlier, dried fruits must be chosen correctly. Bright, beautiful colors indicate that the manufacturer produced this product by a chemical reaction, namely by processing with sulfuric vapors. Dried fruits dried in the sun or in the oven look completely different, try making them at home to know how to compare.

It is also important to remember that dried fruits are not a dietary product. A large amount of sugar contained in fruits requires special attention to the excessive consumption of dried fruits by people who are overweight or have diabetes.

The latter should refrain from eating dried bananas and all exotic fruits, as well as moderate consumption of raisins, prunes and figs. Available in unlimited quantities for diabetics are only dried apples and then in the form of compote.

In connection with the foregoing, it is worth noting that dried fruits are a storehouse of useful vitamins and minerals. When properly processed and stored, they are a real natural drug, however, like every drug, dried fruits require careful dosage calculation and careful use.

Dried fruits have long been a familiar delicacy in many families. This category of blanks includes dehydrated fruits prepared using a special technology. The product is completely edible as an independent dish. Since it is customary to call all sweet fruits fruits, not only fruits of fruit trees, but also berries are included in this category, and dried foods themselves have become an excellent alternative to fresh ones.

Dried fruits owe their appearance to ancient women who collected berries, fruits and other forest gifts, and then dried them and harvested them for future use. Dried fruits are also prepared for the winter by some animals, such as squirrels. Thanks to the drying of fruits, people have the opportunity to get vitamins and minerals for food all year round, as well as taste exotic fruits.

On the shelves of grocery stores and vegetable departments of supermarkets, most of the famous dried fruits can be easily purchased on any day. The local product is most often sold by weight or packed in plastic bags, but overseas delicacies are also sold in paper bags and glass jars. In modern cooking and folk medicine, dried fruits are used as a vitamin food supplement. Most often they are consumed in winter and spring, since in summer and autumn there is enough fresh seasonal products for sale.

A huge amount of dried fruits and their attractive appearance not only awakens the desire to try them all, but also stimulates the appetite. How to understand the variety of these products, choose high-quality blanks, and then apply them correctly, we will try to tell in this article.

Composition and calories

The chemical composition of dried fruits is identical to the fresh fruits from which the delicacy was prepared. In all products, moisture evaporates during drying and the amount of vitamin C decreases. Minerals and dietary fiber in all fruits remain unchanged. That is why dried fruits can be called a complete substitute for fresh products.

Almost all fruits contain minerals such as:

• iron;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• phosphorus.

The calorie content of dried fruits increases compared to fresh fruits, since about fifty grams of dried products are obtained from one hundred grams of fresh products, and some dried fruits dry out by eighty percent. The nutritional value of reconstituted and cooked fruits approaches the value of this indicator in fresh fruits.

Less juicy fruits shrink less and remain soft, while those that contain a lot of juice when fresh become tight and hard. Diabetics and people on dietary restrictions should not forget that 100 grams of dried fruit contains more fruit sugar than 100 grams of fresh fruit.

Types and classification

The assortment of dried fruits is comparable to the amount of fresh fruits. The main groups of features by which all dried fruits can be conditionally classified are characterized by the following criteria:

1. Belonging to the region: local and exotic.
2. Method of preparation of raw materials: whole, half (cut or torn), crushed, and also dried with or without bones.
3. The varietal affiliation of the goods: extra, higher, first and table.
4. Drying method: natural or artificial.
5. Method of preparation: pre-processed and unprocessed.

Also, all dried fruits can be divided into types: stone fruits, seeds and berries. In accordance with the classifier, dried fruits also include natural marshmallow, as well as some varieties of Turkish sherbet and candied fruit.

Beneficial features

The useful properties of dried fruits include the fact that they are a source of natural vitamins. Fiber contained in any such product:

• has a beneficial effect on the intestines;
• helps to clear blood vessels;
• removes toxins from the body.

Each fruit is useful in its own way and has special indications for use. It is impossible to characterize them all in one list, so you can learn about the beneficial properties of the most popular and easily accessible dried fruits from the table.

In addition to all of the above delicacies, dried ones are popular:

• lemons;
• raspberry;
• Strawberry;
• kiwi.

Remember that you should not give dried fruits (especially from exotic fruits!) to young children, because their digestive system is very unstable, and not all tasty substitutes for harmful sweets can be beneficial. The reason for this is the peculiarities of fruit harvesting.

Cooking technology

For the preparation of dried fruits, almost all fruits of the middle lane and some exotic delicacies are used. According to GOST, fruits (as well as berries included in them) that have not reached full maturity are suitable for drying. If the raw material is overripe, then the product from it will be brittle and excessively hard. Of the most famous fruits, pomegranates and some types of citrus fruits are unsuitable for drying. Of the latter, only juices and nectars are prepared.

Industrial environment

Drying fruits in an industrial environment involves the use of chemicals: gases and food coloring. Thanks to the latter, dried apricots, prunes, peaches or apricots acquire such a rich color, and dried grapes become soft and transparent.

Most often, sulfur dioxide (sulfur dioxide, E 220) is used to dry treats, and in order for the product to get shine, it is treated with glycerin or other fatty substances without aroma and pronounced taste.

Without exception, all dried fruits are dried in industrial tunnel-type ovens. Such dryers rid fruits of moisture very quickly. In order not to leave only skins in the delicacy, the workpiece is often treated with boiling water with alkali.

Exotic fruits are dried according to the principle of candied fruits, that is, before drying, they process the workpieces with boiling sugar syrup. Thanks to this, the delicacy retains its visual appeal and does not lose much weight.

DIY

Home-made dried fruits are different from industrially dried treats. First of all, homemade blanks do not have such a presentable appearance as dried fruits in studio photos. But home-made products, unlike purchased ones, will be more useful, because harmful additives will definitely not be used for their manufacture. The process of preparing dried fruits at home differs little from the preparation of dried fruits in the old days. Homemade preparations can be in the form of whole fruits, pieces or slices.

The preparation of dried fruits can be entrusted to nature by hanging prepared fruits on threads or laying them out on trays, baking sheets or paper. Also, for drying, you can use special electrical appliances, ovens with and without air convection.

Home-made preparations will have a less attractive appearance, but will be many times more useful than all the other delicacies that fill the confectionery departments of supermarkets.

How to choose and store?

In order to enjoy the taste of delicacies and get the maximum benefit from the consumed product, you should choose the right dried fruits. Attention should be paid to the appearance of blanks on the shelves.

Without exception, all dried fruits have a long shelf life, but for this, appropriate conditions should be provided for the harvesting. It is advisable to store the product in dark glass or plastic food containers with a tight-fitting lid. It is best if there is a sealing gum under the lid. You can also keep dried fruits in paper or vacuum bags. A prerequisite - blanks should not be turned into assorted.

Regardless of the container, stored dried fruits should be provided with good ventilation, as well as protect them from direct sunlight. The delicacy easily absorbs foreign odors and caustic gases. Do not store food in basements and refrigerators, as well as on unheated balconies.

It is worth refusing to buy if the dried fruits sold:

1. Wet or covered with condensation. This discrepancy appears when the workpiece is incorrectly stored in stores or sold outdoors. In addition to the fact that such fruits will have more weight, microspores of the fungus can develop inside them.
2. They have an unpleasant odor of industrial oils or other chemicals. This happens when the rules for storing blanks are not observed, as well as during transportation or violation of the commodity neighborhood in storage facilities.
3. They emit a damp smell or have visible traces of mold. Such dried fruits are unsuitable for food. They can be poisoned.
4. Refuse to buy treats that stick together.
5. Beaten and broken. Dried fruits become so due to a violation of transportation or after repeated drying. The latter is often done by unscrupulous sellers who violated the rules for storing products and allowed them to become damp or moldy.
6. They crumble into small pieces when pressed. This deficiency may be due to the fact that moth larvae or other pests, such as spiders, have already eaten dried fruits.
7. The acquisition of delicacies that have an unnatural luster should also be discarded. It's no secret that blanks have their own shelf life, and dried fruits lose their appearance. A little vegetable deodorized oil - and the product is fresh again. But only outwardly.

Without exception, all dried fruits should be sweet. If bitterness or salinity is felt in the taste, then this indicates that the product is already expired.. Most dried fruits do not smell. The exceptions are pears and dried plums treated with smoke. Such a product has a smoked flavor.

Even if a product does not have all of the listed negative characteristics, do not rely on its visual conformity. Before purchasing a product, be sure to examine the packaging and make sure that the delicacy is fresh.

The use of dried fruits

Dried fruits are widely used in many areas. The delicacy is consumed both in its usual (dry) form and reconstituted. To give a "marketable" look in the latter case, both cold and hot water are used. It is noteworthy that reconstituted products are always sweeter than fresh ones.

It is desirable to eat dried fruits in small quantities, and if possible, avoid certain combinations of products. The worst combination is the use of any dried fruit with fresh milk. It is also advisable to avoid eating high-sugar fruits with meat products or potatoes.

Nutritionists do not recommend eating dried fruits in large quantities, and they also advise trying to distinguish between the time of taking treats with the main meal. The optimal break for eating high-sugar fruits is forty minutes after a meal. Failure to comply with the rule can lead to the fact that for no apparent reason the floor scales will begin to show more weight.

It is important to remember that absolutely all dried fruits should be washed in warm water before using them for food or for other purposes. Otherwise, you can get food poisoning and intestinal upset!

After the dust and other harmful substances are washed off, the fruit should be poured with a small amount of warm water and allowed to swell a little. Dried fruits will be better absorbed when softened.

In cooking

In cooking, dried fruits are most often used as an independent dish or for cooking:

• compote;
• decoction;
• pilaf;
• fillings for pies;
• casseroles;
• kvass;
• wine and homemade vodka (moonshine);
• confectionery products, including cookies and sweets.

Dried fruits are added to muesli and quick breakfasts, as well as to tea leaves. Easter cakes with dried fruits or candied fruits, as well as any other yeast pastries, are delicious. Dry fruits decorate homemade cakes: muffins, cakes and cakes.

Dried fruits go well with:

• meat of wild and poultry;
• beef and lamb;
• cottage cheese and cheese;
• ice cream;
• sour cow's milk;
• chocolate
• butter creams and whipped cream;
• natural honey;
• nuts;
• cereals (rice, wheat, oats).

When preparing sweet dishes and confectionery products from dried fruits, you should not use spices, because most of them drown out the natural aroma and flavor of the preparations.. The exceptions are cinnamon and cloves, which are sometimes added to dried apple and pear treats.

In folk medicine

Dried fruits are also used in folk medicine. For example, a vitamin remedy is prepared from dried apricots, prunes and raisins that can strengthen the immune system and help in the fight against colds and coughs. In various recipes, it is recommended to add to this mass:

• natural honey;
• walnuts;
• lemon;
• figs;
• aloe.

The principle of preparing the mixture is simple. All solid ingredients are ground using a food processor or meat grinder, after which honey is added to them. In some recipes, it is also recommended to add a small amount of Cahors or any other natural grape wine.

The proportions of the products and their list vary, but if you mix all the components in equal proportions, then such a mixture certainly will not bring harm. Use vitamin "medicine" on an empty stomach. Usually, adults eat a delicacy one tablespoon per day, and children over three years old are recommended to give the composition a teaspoon. A contraindication to the use of vitamin blanks is individual intolerance to products. Many people prefer to simply exclude the allergen and prepare the mixture without it.

Many dried fruits also have a diuretic and laxative effect. There are some that help:

Before using dried fruits for treatment, be sure to study all the indications and contraindications for their use, and also take into account compatibility with other foods!

In addition to everything described above, it should be mentioned that dried fruits are “respected” by the owners of domestic rodents and some varieties of exotic birds. For pets, such treats are a vital product and a highly desirable vitamin supplement in food.

Contraindications and harm

If dried fruits are used incorrectly, then you can harm the body. It should be remembered that some fruits (for example, melon or figs) are best eaten only as an independent dish and should never be combined with heavy meals.

In addition, dried fruits purchased in stores may contain harmful substances (chemicals and industrial dust) that have fallen on the shell during harvesting or transportation. It is undesirable to give dried fruits prepared in industrial conditions to young children.

Refuse to eat dried fruits should be people with frequent allergic reactions to food. Even relatively harmless treats made from local fruits can cause unwanted effects. Overseas dried fruits should be eaten in small portions.

Fruits that affect water-salt metabolism can cause:

• fluid retention, and as a result, swelling of the legs and internal organs;
• excessive urination and excretion of sand from the kidneys and urinary tract.

It is important to remember that plums, pears and apricots are laxative. Such treats should not be eaten in unlimited quantities.

Limit the intake of dried sweets should be pregnant and lactating women. Few people know, but the dried date familiar to many contains an analogue of oxytocin, as a result of which it can cause labor at any stage of pregnancy. The restriction in the intake of dried fruits by nursing mothers is primarily due to the laxative properties of many delicacies, as well as an excess of glucose, which easily enters breast milk. The kid from such an amount of sugar will become restless, he may have frequent urination and thirst, which he will notify with loud crying and external discontent.

In conclusion, I would like to say that all dried fruits should be consumed in limited quantities. Knowing the pros and cons of using dried fruits in the diet, it will be easy to understand the assortment of delicious preparations.

Dried fruits have not lost their popularity since ancient times, due to their unique beneficial properties and effects on the human body, so let's take a closer look at the benefits and harms of dried fruits, what types of dried fruits are, their beneficial qualities and features of use in everyday nutrition and in various diseases.

Types and names of dried fruits

Dried fruits- these are ordinary dried fruits or berries that are dried naturally (in the sun or in the shade) or by industrial methods (using special drying equipment, with or without chemicals).

The main feature of dried fruits and berries is the ability to preserve almost all useful vitamins and microelements important for human health, as well as in fresh berries and fruits from which they were made.

Dried fruits have a wide range of applications, they are consumed without additional processing, added to various dishes, breakfasts, used for baking bread, making various sweets, in cooking, for preparing drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Many dried fruits are quite nutritious and have a high calorie content (several times higher than the calorie content of fresh fruits and berries).

Dried fruits can be divided into 2 main types - dried fruits and dried berries, which in turn are divided into such types (by clicking on the link in the name of each of the dried fruits, you can read articles about their medicinal and beneficial properties):

1. Dried fruits from berries: dried barberry, wild rose, cranberry, (dried grapes).
2. Dried fruits from fruits: dried fig, peach, banana, kumquat, coconut, apricot (, apricot), dried melon, papaya, pear, persimmon, plum (), mango.

The names of dried fruits usually consist of two parts (“dried, -th, -th” and the name of the berry or fruit from which the dried fruit is made) or has its own unique name.

Depending on the type of drying, dried fruits are divided into dried naturally and using special equipment (and chemistry in some cases), and according to the preliminary processing of fruits and berries, dried fruits can be divided into dried as a whole (with and without a stone, if any) and chopped (cut in half, cut into small pieces, with the bone taken out).

1. Most dried fruits and berries are good for the digestive system (due to their high fiber content), liver and kidneys, and help remove harmful substances, cholesterol and toxins from the body.
2. The sugars contained in dried fruits are well absorbed by our body, unlike various sweets (cakes, sweets, pastries), while charging the body with energy.
3. Dried fruits and berries are a good source of many important trace elements and vitamins. Regular consumption of different types of dried fruits helps the human body fight vitamin deficiency, strengthens the immune system and strengthens the protective functions of the body.
4. The vitamin composition of many dried fruits makes them good helpers in the fight against fatigue and bad mood, help fight depression, tone up and strengthen the nervous system.
5. Dried fruits and berries are an excellent food (snack) on a long journey, at work and at school. They are tasty and sweet (most species), while high in calories, perfectly satisfy hunger and charge the body with essential vitamins and nutrients.
6. Dried fruits are useful for everyone without exception: women, men and children.
7. Many dried fruits are useful for women (and not only) who are on a diet. Despite their high calorie content, dried fruits and berries are used in many diets to maintain the body during periods of malnutrition. Also, many girls and women have already appreciated and use dried fruits to prepare various face and body masks that help keep the skin healthy and clean.
8. Many dried fruits are good for men's health, have a positive effect on potency and hormone production.
9. The undoubted useful quality of dried fruits is their simple storage even at home, so you can always have your own useful “vitamin supply” at home.

On a note: dried fruits dried naturally, and even in their entirety and with a stone (if there is one in fresh fruit) are much more useful than dried fruits quickly dried using special equipment and which have undergone additional processing (thermal, chemical, mechanical). As a result of the acceleration of the drying process, various processing (to give an attractive presentation), dried fruits and berries can lose most of their vitamins and minerals.

What can be the harm from dried fruits and contraindications to their use

1. Many dried fruits, before being put on store shelves, undergo various processing, including chemical ones, in order to have a beautiful presentation, be stored longer and not be exposed to harmful insects and microorganisms, so such dried fruits can be harmful to human health (or be useless, due to the low content of nutrients after processing).
2. People with diabetes and obesity should be careful about the use of dried fruits, as they are very high in calories.
3. The use of dried fruits in large quantities is harmful to health, can cause allergic reactions and dehydration.
4. The high sugar content in dried fruits and berries can adversely affect dental health, so after eating dried fruits, it is not superfluous to brush your teeth (at least rinse your mouth well with plain water).
5. It is not advisable to use dried fruits for exacerbations of stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Popular questions about dried fruits

— What are the best dried fruits? What are the healthiest dried fruits?

There is no single answer to this question, since each type of dried fruit contains a certain composition of vitamins and microelements, on which their beneficial properties depend on certain organs or the entire human body as a whole. Of the popular and healthy dried fruits, dates, figs, dried apricots, raisins and prunes can be distinguished.

— At what age can you give dried fruits to a child?

Dried fruits can be given to small children from 1 to 1.5 years old, while at first in minimal portions in grated form (in the form of mashed potatoes), as well as soaked in water or steamed so that they are soft and not very dry. You should also pay attention to dried fruit compotes (infused with hot water, not boiled, as they will lose their beneficial properties), they are no less useful and are well absorbed by the children's body.

— What are the benefits of dried fruits during pregnancy?

The high content of useful substances and vitamins helps to strengthen the immunity of a pregnant woman and the fetus, increases the body's resistance to diseases. The benefits and harms of dried fruits during pregnancy are different, depending on the dry fruits and berries chosen for nutrition (each type of dried fruit and berries has its own tips and contraindications, so it is better for pregnant women to consult their doctor before use, and also take into account personal intolerance to different fruits and berries).

— What dried fruits can be breastfed?

Dried fruits are harmless and even useful during lactation, the main thing is to know the measure and use only high-quality dried fruits and berries, while making sure that the child does not have allergic reactions. Nursing mothers can eat and cook compotes, and uzvars from: rose hips, dried apricots, dates, raisins, prunes.

— What dried fruits are good for weight loss?

When losing weight, all types of dried fruits are used in diets, as they satisfy hunger well, have a beneficial effect on digestion in reasonable quantities, and also saturate the body with useful vitamins and minerals.

— What dried fruits can be eaten with diabetes?

With diabetes, many dried fruits are not desirable, due to the high sugar content in them, but dried pears, apples, currants (not sweet varieties) can be consumed in moderation. It is better for diabetics to refrain from eating exotic dried fruits (dried mangoes, bananas, pineapples, etc.), as well as dried cherries. In any case, choosing which dried fruit you can eat with diabetes, it is better to consult a specialized doctor.

— What dried fruits are good for the heart?

First of all, dried apricots are good for the heart, due to the high content of potassium, but it can also be used in a mixture with other dried fruits (figs, prunes, raisins, dates).

— What dried fruits have a laxative effect?

Dried fruits such as prunes, dried apricots and figs have the best laxative effect.

— What dried fruits are compote made from?

Almost all known dried fruits are used for cooking compote, especially from dried fruits and berries grown in our latitudes (not exotic). They can be used both separately and make mixtures of dried fruits for making compote and uzvar.

A useful quality of many dried fruits is the possibility of their long storage, in which they retain their beneficial properties and do not deteriorate, unlike fresh fruits and berries, so we advise you to read.

In conclusion to the article, it can be noted that knowing what dried fruits are and what are the benefits and harms of dried fruits and berries, you can significantly enrich your diet and improve your health by eating dried fruits rich in vitamins and microelements. We leave our reviews about dried fruits, their beneficial properties and contraindications for use in the comments to this article and share it in in social networks if it was helpful to you.

Dried fruits are a tasty and healthy product, although they raise some questions for those who follow the figure. Indeed, a higher concentration of sugar in comparison with fresh fruits, on the one hand, and a lot of useful substances, and, accordingly, properties, on the other, make you think. We will consider these subtleties.

Types of dried fruits

There are many types of dried fruits, as well as their fresh counterparts. They can be with and without stones, whole and in the form of halves or small pieces, dried in the shade and under open rays, or even boiled in sugar syrup (candied fruits).

The list of their names is quite long (by the way, berries are also included in it): raisins, pear, apple, rosehip, barberry, cranberry, prunes, apricots, dried apricots, cherries, dates, peach, banana, figs, papaya, unabi and many others. Let us dwell on those that are especially useful in weight loss. And the vitamins in dried fruits are the most diverse, if they are not chemically processed.

What dried fruits are good for weight loss

There is an opinion that it is impossible to eat fruits during a diet, and dried fruits are generally unacceptable to use, because the first of them are sweet, and the second are very sweet. If you adhere to a specific strict diet (protein, for example), then of course, by definition, there can be no fruits in it. Otherwise, you should think carefully about this issue.

What dried fruits are useful? Dried fruits are useful in dietary nutrition, at least because they are a concentrated receptacle of a variety of useful substances that we need so much for normal well-being. They also help to drown out the feeling of hunger, and their sweetness is perhaps the only way to do without chocolates and sweets (by relieving bouts of irritability).

There are certain types of dried fruits that should be preferred when dieting. First of all - with a low glycemic index (GI), because this means that the product is broken down slowly, gradually, digested for a long time and does not cause a sharp release of insulin.

Why is it important? Because with large doses of sugar entering the body, part of it will definitely turn into fat. At the same time, thanks to insulin, the body is only able to build adipose tissue, but not break it down.

That is why, if 2 people eat the same amount of calories, but the products are different, with a strikingly different GI, they will lose weight (or get better) with different results.

Useful properties of dried fruits

The presence of a whole set of micro and macro elements, fiber and vitamins make dried fruits an ideal food, especially in the winter season. Also, this product boasts a balanced amount of organic acids and fiber, which, by the way, plays a huge role in cleansing the body of harmful substances, stimulates peristalsis and normalizes the intestinal microflora.

Each type of these sweets has its own unique set of "usefulness", and therefore is often purposefully used to treat or prevent not only beriberi, but also certain diseases.

The benefits of dried apricots for weight loss

Dried apricots are a nutritious product that drowns out the feeling of hunger and gives energy. In addition, it should be added to the diet if the heart and thyroid gland fail, vision is impaired. It contains a huge amount of minerals that work for the benefit of the whole organism.

The benefits of prunes for the body

Prunes have a positive effect on digestion and bowel function, regulate cholesterol levels and give a feeling of satiety, and are an antidepressant. It should be consumed if the digestive tract needs attention, because it is a well-known remedy for cleansing the intestines, and prunes also have antioxidant properties.

What are the benefits of dates

But the benefits of dates are difficult to limit with some kind of framework. They are recommended to use to strengthen the heart, kidneys, liver; with anemia, hypertension, cough, dystrophy; dates activate the brain, reduce the risk of cancer, and are also a general tonic. And this is not a complete list.
However, there is one "but".

Dates have a high GI, which is doubly unfortunate as they are one of the tastiest and sweetest foods. However, do not rush to exclude it from the diet. You can reduce the GI coefficient if you drink dates with milk or kefir.

These foods delay the breakdown of sugar, thereby lowering the glycemic index. This applies to all dairy and sour-milk, but give preference to products with a low percentage of fat.

The benefits of raisins for women

Raisin. Normalizes digestion and acidity, is a source of energy (a necessary component of the diet for high physical exertion). In addition, it is useful for the thyroid gland due to the high content of iodine.

The benefits of figs for weight loss

This fruit has an ideal ratio of nutrients, as well as (the only plant) - omega-3 and -6 acids. In addition, it removes fluid from the body, reduces the feeling of hunger, and helps to normalize digestion. And most importantly, figs have a relatively small amount of calories and a low GI.

Whichever of these sweets you choose, remember that portions should be small - up to 10 pieces of fruit per day. By carefully and slowly chewing food, you will “deceive” the feeling of hunger, but replenish the reserves of essential nutrients.

How many calories are in dried fruits

Dried fruit calorie and GI table

How to choose dried fruits

It is no secret that food is often treated with special and not always harmless substances. Therefore, the first thing that should alert you is an excessively bright color.

Usually, this is the result of using sulfur dioxide (E220). This preservative can cause severe allergies in asthmatics, as well as exacerbate gastrointestinal diseases, as it destroys the mucous membrane. But if the product has an inexpressive color and a wrinkled, dusty surface, you can take it.

The second thing that should alert you is an uncharacteristic smell or taste. For example, plum fruits are difficult to dry naturally, as they turn sour rather quickly.

Resourceful producers dry them in special ovens - gas and gasoline - thanks to which dried fruits acquire the appropriate taste, smell and numerous cracks on the peel, where carcinogenic substances settle. Vitamins and enzymes - perish.

It is better to buy dates with seeds, and prunes, raisins - with stalks.
Another alarming moment is the unnatural shine.

Often this applies to prunes that are treated with glycerin or soaked in low-quality oil to give softness and shine. The coffee shade indicates that the fruits were scalded with boiling water, and this significantly reduces the amount of vitamins in them.

Dried fruits for diabetes

People with this disease need to be extremely careful when choosing dried fruits. Dried fruits for diabetes can be eaten in moderation. Exotic overseas fruits will have to be immediately abandoned, as well as bananas, figs and pineapple. Prunes, raisins and dates can be consumed in very limited quantities (no more than 3 prunes, 1 tablespoon of raisins, and 1 date per day).

But unsweetened varieties of apples, currants, and especially pears can be eaten without fear for health, but without fanaticism. The patient must agree with the doctor on the complete list of dried fruits that can and cannot be diabetics.

This applies not only to this disease. A person suffering from several ailments at the same time can harm himself. For example, if in addition to diabetes there is an ulcer, it is better to exclude raisins altogether, and if there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, dates should also be discarded.

Dried fruits during pregnancy

Of course, in view of the huge number of various “usefulnesses”, pregnant women should consume a variety of dried fruits in reasonable quantities, while paying close attention to their quality. The human body is a complex and intelligent system that can tell you exactly what it lacks.

Therefore, a pregnant woman should listen to her appetite and consume the appropriate fruits.
And yet, doctors especially recommend dates (not least due to the substance oxytocin).

They are useful during pregnancy and lactation; facilitate childbirth and contribute to the production of milk in the mother, as they trigger a whole cascade of reactions in the female body.

Dried fruits instead of sweets

What are the advantages of dried fruit over confectionery? Despite the calorie content, a very small portion of dried fruits will be enough to both heal and saturate the body.

In addition, without denying yourself sweets, you get rid of depression, a frequent companion of diets. And unlike all kinds of cakes and chocolates, dried fruits are a natural product.

Dried fruit dishes

Dried fruits can not only be added to oatmeal, although it is both quick and tasty. Based on them, you can cook broths and soups, make pilaf and salads, as well as cook delicious cottage cheese desserts, while not compromising the basic principles of dietary nutrition.

The conclusions are obvious: it is possible and necessary to include dried fruits in the diet, especially for those who are losing weight or controlling weight, as well as women in position. And in case of any diseases, you should first consult with your doctor.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DRIED FRUITS (FOR BENEFITS TO HUMANS):

CONDITIONAL ABBREVIATIONS: B- protein content (g/100g), vit A- content of vitamin A in retinol equivalent (mg/100g), vit E- content of vitamin E in tocopherol equivalent (mg/100g), PP- content of vitamin PP in niacin equivalent (mg/100g), Ca- calcium content (mg/100g), K- potassium content (mg/100g), mg- magnesium content (mg/100g), P- phosphorus content (mg/100gr), Fe- iron content (µg/100g), kcal- calorie content of the product per 100g.

What is the healthiest dried fruit? Conclusions from the table: