Dried fruits are very common in many diets. You can include them in salads, cereals, bread, meats or you can just eat them as a snack. Maybe they are not your first choice during hot seasons since fresh fruit is always a better option, but now that we’re entering fall, it is the perfect time to eat dried fruits. In fact, it is very common in some countries to eat more dried fruits during this time of the year and this is definitely a good thing because even though they are dehydrated, they’re still packed with nutrients.
Dried fruits like apricots, raisins, almonds, dates, pistachios, and many other have healthy unsaturated fats, as well as oleic and linoleic fatty acids and the popular Omega 3. This means they are good for your heart and cholesterol levels.
Strawberries, citrus fruits, papayas, kiwi, and cherries, have plenty of vitamins C and E, which make them great antioxidants. This helps us stay away from degenerative diseases and premature aging.
Most Nutritious Dried Fruit
Peaches: Contain 34% of your daily vitamin A and 18% iron recommendations, it’s also a good source of potassium, niacin, and copper.
Apples: These contain 3.5 grams of fiber, which keep you full and are a great light snack.
Lychees: Forget oranges! One serving contains 244% of your daily needs for vitamin C, plus it has 3.2 grams of protein and a good source of riboflavin.
Apricots: These have 47% of your daily vitamin A, and are a good source of potassium, vitamin E, and copper.
Prunes: These are also packed with fiber and are often linked to providing a laxative effect, they are also a great source of protein and iron.
Figs: These just like prunes, also can help make you go, plus they are a great source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
Cranberries: Dried cranberries are delicious on salads, and they are associated with phytonutrients which contain natural chemicals, which help prevent disease and help keep your body healthy.
Raisins: These you could find in small little boxes and they are a great source of protein and have minerals like potassium and manganese.
Pears: Fresh pears often spoil easy, but not the dry ones! These are packed with vitamin C, iron, vitamin K, and copper.
Tomatoes: Who doesn’t love tomatoes! They are a superfood since they have iron, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, magnesium, and manganese.
Dried fruits might not be something you usually have in your kitchen but they do come in handy when you’re hungry and need a snack. You can have a quick and healthy snack wherever you are: at work, at school, at the gym, on the bus… This is a great option because this is not a snack that needs to be refrigerated, so it won’t make a mess in your bag and it is not heavy.
Include them in your diet and you will soon start to reap the benefits. Always try to eat them “raw” or “natural”. Avoid dried fruits covered in salt, sugar or caramel, and those that are fried. Just think of when you eat fresh fruit, don’t you like it better when you eat it natural? It is the same with dried fruits.