Pears have been around for thousands of years. This bell-shaped fruit is delicious, which is just one of the reasons why it’s commonly eaten across the world. Pears also offer a lot of proven health and nutrition benefits. In this article, we’re going to talk about 6 science-backed health benefits to eating pears.
- Full of nutrients
There are many different types of pears, such as D’Anjou, Bosc, and Bartlett, to name just three. In fact, more than 100 types of this fruit are grown across the globe. Listed below are the nutrients found in a medium-sized pear.
• Calories: 101
• Carbohydrates: 27 grams
• Copper: 16% of the daily value
• Fiber: 6 grams
• Protein 1 gram
• Potassium: 4% of the daily value
• Vitamin C: 12% of DV
• Vitamin K: 6% of the daily value
Apart from the mentioned nutrients, the same serving offers a little bit of niacin, provitamin, and folate. They are important for the proper functioning of your cells and healthy skin. Pears also contain a lot of essential minerals like potassium and copper.
- Healthy gut
Pears are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. Both fiber types play an important role in maintaining the health of your gut. Basically, fibers help soft and bulk up the stool in your gut so you don’t have any problems with bowel movement.
A medium-sized pear contains around 6 grams of fiber, which is 22% of the amount of fiber that your body needs on a daily basis. If you suffer from constipation, you can eat pears to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut and find significant relief.
- Beneficial plant compounds
Pears contain a lot of healthy plant compounds, such as anthocyanins. Regular consumption of the fruit may make your blood vessels stronger. This helps you reduce the risk of cardiac disease.
Also, if you consume pears with green skin, you can improve or maintain the quality of your eyesight. The reason is that this type of pears contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for your vision in general.
- Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation is an immune response, but chronic inflammation may have a negative impact on your health. For instance, if left untreated, long-term inflammation may increase your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in pears may help reduce the risk of heart disease and fight inflammation. Also, the fruit is rich in different types of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and copper.
- Anticancer properties
Pears contain cinnamic acid, which helps fight different types of cancer, such as bladder cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer. Some studies found that it can help protect against ovarian and breast cancer, which is why women can benefit from eating the fruit.
- Lower risk of stroke
According to some studies, eating pears regularly may also help reduce your risk of a stroke. For instance, a study conducted over a period of 10 years involving 20,000 volunteers found that eating 25 grams of this white-fleshed fruit reduced the risk of stroke by 9%.
By Abdul Waheed Zafar
