Healthy Benefits of Pears
Pear Nutrition
Pears are a delicious, low-calorie snack, and they're also chock-full of hard-to-get nutrients. Here's the nutritional breakdown for one medium-sized pear:
- calories: 101;
- fat: 0g;
- saturated Fat: 0 g;
- trans Fat: 0 g;
- carbohydrates: 27 g;
- fiber: 6 g;
- sugar: 17 g;
- added Sugar: 0 g;
- protein: 1 g;
- magnesium: 12 mg;
- potassium: 206 mg;
- vitamin C: 8 mg;
Pears deliver a hefty amount of fiber, which keeps heart and gut healthy.
Pears are sweet, bell-shaped fruits that have been enjoyed since ancient times. They can be eaten crisp or soft.
They’re not only delicious but also offer many health benefits backed by science:
Promot gut health
Pears are an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, which are essential for digestive health. These fibers help maintain bowel regularity by softening and bulking up stool.
Contain beneficial plant compounds
Pears offer many beneficial plant compounds that give these fruits their different hues.
For instance, anthocyanins lend a ruby-red hue to some pears. These compounds may improve heart health and strengthen blood vessels.
Pears with green skin feature lutein and zeaxanthin, two compounds necessary to keep your vision sharp, especially as you age.
Many of these beneficial plant compounds are concentrated in the skin.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Although inflammation is a normal immune response, chronic or long-term inflammation can harm your health. It’s linked to certain illnesses, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Pears are a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants, which help fight inflammation and may decrease your risk of disease.
What’s more, pears pack several vitamins and minerals, such as copper and vitamins C and K, which also combat inflammation.
Linked to a lower risk of diabetes
Pears — particularly red varieties — may help decrease diabetes risk.
The anthocyanins in the peel of red pears have both antidiabetic and anti -inflammatory effects.What’s more, the fiber in pears slows digestion, giving your body more time to break down and absorb carbs. This can also help regulate blood sugar levels, potentially helping prevent and control diabetes.
May boost heart health
Pears may lower your risk of heart disease. Their procyanidin antioxidants may decrease stiffness in heart tissue, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
The peel contains an important antioxidant called quercetin, which is thought to benefit heart health by decreasing inflammation and reducing heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, regular intake of pears and other white-fleshed fruits is thought to lower stroke risk.
The bottom line
Pears are a powerhouse fruit, packing fiber, vitamins, and beneficial plant compounds. Peel harbors many of this fruit’s nutrients.