Food as Medicine: Apricot Edition

This month, our Health & Nutrition Manager is sharing the health benefits of Apricots for our Food As Medicine Series.

Health Benefits of Apricots:

• Highly nutritious, apricots contain vitamins C and A, fiber, copper, and potassium, helping to support a healthy immune system

• They contain a variety of antioxidants including quercetin that help prevent illness and protect cells from free radical damage

• Rich in vitamin A, apricots contain nutrients that protect eyes from age-related damage, lutein which aids in a healthy retina, and retinol and beta carotene which helps prevent macular degeneration

• They have a high fiber content which aids digestion and helps prevent constipation

• Their vitamin and mineral content helps lower blood pressure, relax the tension in the blood vessels/arteries, and clean excess cholesterol from the circulatory system, helping to prevent heart disease and stroke

Helpful Tips:

• Choose apricots that are in season locally, between mid-May and mid-August in the Northern hemisphere

• Ripe apricots are orange in color with hints of redness, smooth and unwrinkled, firm to the touch but yield slightly with light pressure

• When not in season, sulfur-free dried apricots are a great alternative

Recipe: Fresh Apricot Salsa

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 apricots, peels

• 1 large red bell pepper

• 1 jalapeno

• 1 shallot

• 2 heaping tablespoons of cilantro, chopped

• juice of 1 lime

• Himalayan Pink Salt to taste

Directions:

Dice apricots, bell pepper, jalapeno, and shallot. Mix together in a bowl with the chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or more for flavors to meld. Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping in tacos.

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Nancy is a Certified Health Coach and Life Coach and received training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. To learn more about Nancy, CLICK HERE!