DIET WITH DRINKED APRINTS: reviews, menu, effectiveness, contraindications

28.02.2020 09:00

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Dried apricots are dried fruits, saturated with a valuable set of vitamins, macro- and microelements, and acids. Although fresh apricots are healthier, dried fruits are also important for health, especially during the cold season. It is useful to eat dried apricots every day, but within the acceptable limits.

Author: Tumanyan Tatevik Sergeevna

Dried apricots are dried fruits, saturated with a valuable set of vitamins, macro- and microelements, and acids. Although fresh apricots are healthier, dried fruits are also important for health, especially during the cold season. It is useful to eat dried apricots every day, but within the acceptable limits.

How and where it grows

Apricot is one of the representatives of the plum family. This tree is cultivated in China, Central Asia, Mediterranean countries and southern regions of Europe. The tree can reach a height of 7-10 m, and the diameter of its crown is 3 m. Apricots prefer sunny, warm days during the fruiting period, but they are frost-resistant in winter.

Trees like soil with moderate levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If they are deficient, the plant sheds its flowers and ovary, and its leaves turn yellow and fall off. When there is a lack of moisture in the soil, apricot stops its growth.

Depending on the type of tree, flowering begins in April-May. Apricot flowers are white or pinkish; the ovary produces a fruit - a juicy drupe. The fruits ripen in June-July.

Methods for losing weight

A diet based on dried apricots can last 5 or more days. In one course you can lose 4 kg. The longer the diet, the better the results.

For 5 days

On such a diet with dried apricots it is easy to lose 5 kg of excess weight. You need to consume 300 grams of dried apricots and half a liter of juice, peach or apricot, per day.

From the above products you need to make a puree and divide it into 4 meals:

• first after sleep;
• the second at 10:00;
• third at 14:00;
• the last one is at 18:00.

You can drink water in any quantity, but only still water.

For 7 days

Fatty, fried foods and all kinds of sweets are excluded from the daily diet. High-calorie foods are replaced by 200 grams of meat or fish with minimal fat content.

Be sure to consume a significant amount of water - more than three liters per day. But you can't drink soda or sweet water. It is necessary to completely exclude from the menu such harmful foods as crackers, chips, nuts, etc.

The main condition is to eat 200 grams of dried apricots per day. Throughout the week you need to alternate the menu of two days:

First day:

• for breakfast you need to eat 70 grams of dried apricots;
• for lunch they prepare low-fat soup and 50 grams of dried apricots;
• for an afternoon snack, any vegetable salad and the obligatory 30 grams of dried apricots;
• For dinner you should prepare rice (or any other) porridge with the same dried apricots.

Second day:

• for breakfast you need to eat 70 grams of dried apricots;
• for lunch, prepare porridge with milk, for example, buckwheat and 50 grams of dried apricots;
• for an afternoon snack, eat 30 grams of dried apricots and unsweetened fruit;
• for dinner, 200 grams of lean fish or meat and 50 grams of dried apricots.

Important: When leaving the dried apricot diet, in order to avoid problems in the functioning of the body, protein foods, preferably of plant origin, should predominate in the daily menu.

Chemical composition

Apricots lose moisture during drying, so the substances contained in the pulp are concentrated in its residue. Thus, recalculated per 100 g of dry pulp, the concentration of nutrients, minerals and vitamins significantly exceeds that in fresh fruits.

Dried apricots have a rich chemical composition. It contains (per 100 g of pulp) [1]:

• carbohydrates (simple sugars, fiber, pectin, starch) - 50-55 g;
• proteins - 3 g;
• fats, including unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols - 0.5 g;
• minerals (macro- and microelements);
• vitamins.

More than 80% of dried apricot carbohydrates consist of easily digestible carbohydrates (mono- and disaccharides).
It is they who determine the high energy value of these fruits. The glycemic index of dried apricots is 30 units, so they are not recommended for consumption by those suffering from diabetes. Carbohydrates [2][3]

There are few proteins in dried apricots (only 3 g per 100 g of product), but they contain all the essential amino acids necessary for humans, without which the synthesis of complete protein is impossible.
Essential amino acids [2][3]

Among the main protein substances, dried apricots contain a large amount of purine bases (up to 25% of the daily value in 100 g of dried apricots), so consuming this dried fruit is dangerous for gout and urolithiasis.

There is little fat in dried apricots (up to 0.5 g per 100 g of pulp), but they are healthy because 3/4 are represented by unsaturated fatty acids. Dried apricots also contain special fats - phytosterols, which in moderate quantities have an anticholesterolemic and antitumor effect. Their amount in 100 g of dried apricots is more than 50% of a person’s daily requirement.

The nutritional and energy-important compounds in dried apricots are harmoniously supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins and vitamin-like compounds [2][3]

In terms of potassium concentration in the pulp, dried apricots are the leader among plant products.
This dried fruit is also a source of many other macro- and microelements. Moreover, some of them are contained in dried apricots in the daily amount required for the human body, for example, silicon, boron, chromium. Mineral composition [2][3]

The plant fiber of apricot fruits is capable of accumulating the radionuclide strontium, therefore apricots growing in radiation-affected regions are strictly prohibited for consumption and harvesting, including in the form of dried apricots.

The calorie content of dried fruits is high and amounts to 220-240 kcal per 100 g of product (depending on the type of apricots used). Such a high calorie content is provided mainly by carbohydrates, since their amount in 100 g of dried apricots is 55 g.

Dried apricot decoction for weight loss. Dried apricots for weight loss - a delicious way to lose weight

Greetings, dear readers of my blog! Agree, when a person adheres to a strict diet, he is drawn to goodies more than anything else.

Forbidden fruit is sweet, isn't it? Today we will look at one great way to replenish glucose reserves without sacrificing your figure. The topic of our article is dried apricots for weight loss.

Orange circles are little suns

Dried apricots are dried apricots. This dried fruit brings benefits to the body in large quantities. Firstly, dried apricots are rich in potassium.

Therefore, doctors recommend using it for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, as well as for athletes who need rapid muscle recovery after intense training.

Secondly, this dried fruit has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, which are of great importance in the fight for slimness.

I had a question: “Can dried apricots help you lose weight?” After all, it is quite high in calories: 241 kcal per 100 g. Nutritionists say that you can and even should include it in your diet.

The range of vitamins and microelements, as well as its saturability, justify the high calorie content of the product. In addition, this is a good alternative to sweets.

Benefits for weight loss

1. It satisfies hunger well and for a long time, despite the large amount of carbohydrates. The fact is that dried apricots are dominated by complex (slow) carbohydrates, they take a long time to digest and give a feeling of fullness. However, everything needs moderation. How many pieces do you think you can eat daily? Nutritionists advise consuming no more than 5-8 dried fruits per day.
2. Perfectly replaces sugar and sugar-containing products. It is recommended to add to the diet for those who have a sweet tooth.
3. Contains a large amount of fiber, therefore, has a laxative effect and improves metabolic processes in the body.

Contraindications

Despite its beneficial qualities, dried apricots have contraindications, failure to comply with which can cause harm to the body.

People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes should not eat this dried fruit. Dried apricots can cause a sharp spike in blood sugar.

People with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract should minimize the consumption of dried apricots. Otherwise, the disease may worsen.

It is also not recommended to consume dried fruit if you have an individual intolerance to the product or allergic reactions.

How to eat to lose weight

Dried apricots can become an additional component in dietary nutrition or as a monocomponent (for example, during a fasting day).

You can use the fruits of this dried fruit as an additive to porridge or cottage cheese. Breakfast with dried apricots will give you energy for the whole day.

Perfect as a snack or dessert (but only in the first half of the day). Nutritionists advise drinking 300 ml of clean water after snacking on dried apricots.

Dietary fiber will swell and prolong the feeling of fullness. Although they say that you can’t wash down your food.

People prone to constipation (and generally cleanse their intestines) can cook dried fruit compote by adding any ingredients - dried apricots, raisins, prunes, figs. Just no added sugar. There is so much of it in dried fruits.

Dried apricots with kefir are an excellent cleaning agent. They say it removes toxins from the body. Whether it removes or not is unknown, but if you do not digest dairy products, then the toilet is guaranteed for you. This is probably what they call it - removing toxins. You can prepare a smoothie: beat dried, pre-soaked fruits and kefir in a blender. It is better to take this drink at night.

Lifehack when purchasing

If you want to buy high-quality dried apricots, then it is best to buy them at the market. The fact is that in stores dried fruits are sold in packages and treated with sulfur dioxide (E220). Although anything can happen there.

1. Pay attention to the color. If the dried apricots are beautiful, bright orange, then this is the result of chemical processing. If you do buy such a product, then before use you need to rinse well and soak in water for an hour. The color of “correct”, natural dried apricots should be dark orange and inconspicuous in appearance.
2. Dried apricots should not be sticky or wrinkled. Also, it should not contain traces of insects and mold. It feels hard and dense to the touch, but not soft and sticky.
3. The surface of the dried fruit should not be shiny. Otherwise, this means that the dried apricots have been treated with oil or glycerin.
4. It is necessary to choose larger dried apricots. This means that the ripest fruits were chosen for its preparation. I do not agree with this advice, since the size and color depend, first of all, on the variety.

What to remember

Remember that, despite its beneficial properties, dried apricots are quite high in calories.

Try to consume it in the first half of the day so that the body has time to spend energy and not store it in the fat depot.

Choose quality dried apricot fruits.

Add this dried fruit to your diet in measured doses: only then will dried apricots promote weight loss.

Pay attention to contraindications.

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Benefits for the human body

When consumed regularly, dried apricots exhibit many beneficial properties for the human body:

• improves the passage of nerve impulses through the conduction system of the heart, which has an antiarrhythmic effect;
• reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby reducing the likelihood of the formation of cholesterol plaques on the vascular walls;
• increases the elasticity of blood vessels;
• promotes hematopoiesis;
• normalizes blood viscosity;
• reduces the need of cells for oxygen;
• normalizes tissue respiration;
• stimulates intestinal motility;
• normalizes the functioning of the liver and pancreas;
• promotes the removal of toxins and toxic substances from the body;
• improves brain function;
• restores vision;
• has a diuretic effect, which helps reduce swelling;
• increases the body's immunity and resistance to infections;
• improves metabolism, including fats;
• participates in the synthesis of steroid hormones;
• stimulates the thyroid gland;
• participates in tissue repair processes;
• activates the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, which prevents skin aging;
• has an antioxidant effect, thereby strengthening cell membranes;
• exhibits antitumor effect;
• enriches the body with vitamins and minerals;
• helps maintain acid-base and water-electrolyte balance in the body [4].

Such a variety of positive functions makes dried apricots one of the favorite delicacies, which are recommended to be included in the therapeutic diet for many diseases of the human body.

Reviews

Sakharova Olga Vasilyevna, 49 years old, Podolsk Against the backdrop of many years of sedentary work, I began to develop osteochondrosis with excruciating pain in the neck. Dried apricots helped the spine - a medicinal delicacy made from dried fruits seems very simple, but brings invaluable benefits. From time to time I repeat the treatment course, and the pain bothers me much less often. Ivanova Anna Mikhailovna, 28 years old, Moscow I really like to leave dried apricots in my diet when losing weight - they are not as high in calories as other sweets, and the taste is in no way inferior to them. Dried apricots also helped me with constipation during pregnancy - before buying a laxative, I decided to resort to folk remedies and was not mistaken.

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Use in folk medicine

Both folk and official medicine recognize the healing properties of dried apricots and recommend enriching their diet with it for both sick and healthy people.

Dried apricots are useful for eating when:

• atherosclerosis;
• arrhythmias;
• arterial hypertension;
• coronary heart disease;
• tendency to thrombosis;
• cardiac and renal edema;
• diseases of the liver and pancreas in compensated form;
• constipation;
• anemia;
• pathologies of the thyroid gland;
• sexual dysfunction;
• hypovitaminosis;
• cerebrovascular accident;
• ophthalmopathy, myopia.

For preventive purposes, dried apricots are recommended for:

• increasing immunity before the season of infectious viral diseases;
• normalization of stool during a diet;
• preventing the appearance of signs of skin aging;
• people working in hazardous working conditions or having bad habits;
• after serious illnesses and operations.

It is useful to include these dried fruits in the diet of cancer patients, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Possible harm

Despite all the healing properties of dried apricots, its use should be limited to people who suffer from:

• gout and urolithiasis (contains many purine bases);
• diabetes mellitus (increases blood glucose levels);
• diseases of the pancreas and liver in a decompensated form (can provoke an exacerbation);
• peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum (increases acidity);
• severe obesity (high carbohydrate load);
• food allergies [5].

To avoid unpleasant consequences, in case of such pathologies you should consume dried apricots rarely and in very small quantities (up to 10 pieces per week). And this applies only to natural dried apricots, dried in a natural way.

The possible harm from eating dried apricots can be greater if you consume “store-bought” dried fruit. Beautiful dried apricots, which can be purchased in almost any store, do not have the beneficial properties of homemade dried apricots. It's all about the way it's prepared.

The harm of “store-bought” dried apricots

Industrially dried fruits can be harmful to human health. In the mass production of this dried fruit, apricots are dried in special ovens using sulfur dioxide (sulfur dioxide). This process is called sulfurization and it consists of exposing apricot halves to vapors of burnt sulfur in ovens for 8-12 hours. If unripe fruits were selected for drying, the sulfurization process can take up to 20 hours. As a result of this processing, dried apricots will look attractive and have a long shelf life. Some producers, instead of steam treatment, soak apricots in solutions of potassium or sodium sulfite salts, which provides the same effect.

Sulfur dioxide is a food additive permitted in our country (E220) and its maximum content in dried apricots should not exceed 0.2%. Unscrupulous manufacturers, trying to improve the appearance of the product, often exceed these standards. The output is dried apricots with a concentration of sulfur dioxide of more than 0.3%, which is dangerous to health, especially in childhood and old age, after serious illnesses [6].

If the permissible content of sulfur dioxide in dried apricots is significantly exceeded or when a large amount of such dried fruits is consumed, signs of food poisoning and intoxication may appear.

Healthy recipes

Many tasty and healthy dishes are prepared based on or with the addition of dried fruit. Preparation takes little time, but the health effects of the delicacies are very good.

Dried apricot decoction

For digestive disorders, constipation and vitamin deficiency, a decoction of dried apricots is of great benefit. It is prepared like this:

• 100 g of dried fruits are soaked in clean water for 10 minutes, and then washed thoroughly under the tap,
• dried apricots are poured into 1 liter of water and placed on the stove,
• After the dried fruits boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan with a lid and cook for a quarter of an hour.

You need to drink a glass of the product twice a day, you can use it some time after meals.

Infusion of dried apricots

Another healthy and tasty recipe is a water infusion based on dried fruits. Its peculiarity is that the beneficial properties in dried apricots are preserved even more than in the decoction, since it is subjected to minimal heat treatment.

100 g of washed fruits are poured with 100 ml of water and left for 6 hours. After this, the product can be drunk 2 or 3 times a day in the volume of a glass. The benefits of a drink made from dried apricots will only be greater if you add a teaspoon of honey to it.

The properties of the infusion are useful for a lack of vitamins in the body, stomach diseases and weakened blood vessels. Dried apricots are beneficial for the liver; they have a cleansing effect on the body and help the organ recover faster.

Rice with dried apricots

A very simple to prepare but healthy dish is rice with the addition of dried fruit. To prepare it you need:

• rinse several times and soak about 100 g of cereal in water for 10 minutes,
• wash and dry 40 g of dried apricots,
• wash and scald with boiling water, and then dry 25 g of raisins,
• Rinse the rice again, pour 200 ml of water into it and boil.

After boiling, the rice is cooked over low heat until fully cooked, and in the meantime the dried apricots are cut into pieces. When the cereal is completely ready, you just need to remove it from the stove, transfer it to a plate and add the prepared dried fruits.

Eating this dish is useful for digestive problems and to strengthen the heart. Rice with dried apricots is often given to children; the dish not only satisfies well and replenishes the supply of vitamins, but also helps regulate stool.

Cottage cheese with dried apricots

Homemade curd with dried apricots is an excellent delicacy that has a positive effect on joints, teeth, skin and hair, and also improves the condition of the stomach. Prepare the dish as follows:

• 400 g of crumbly cottage cheese are ground through a sieve so that the cottage cheese becomes airy,
• add 50 g of granulated sugar and grind it thoroughly with the curd mass,
• mix the preparation with 3 large spoons of natural yogurt or sour cream,
• 100 g dried apricots, pre-soaked in water, cut into small pieces,
• dried fruits are added to the sweet curd mass and mixed thoroughly again.

You can sprinkle the treat on top with a pinch of vanillin. The benefits of dried apricots will be evident if you consume this dish in the morning or instead of an afternoon snack - the delicacy will not harm your figure, but will have a beneficial effect on your health.

Kefir with dried apricots

One of the simplest and lowest-calorie dishes is dried apricots with kefir. You can prepare it simply - cut about 50 g of dried fruits into 1 liter of low-fat kefir, pour them into a fermented milk drink and mix thoroughly. If you chop the dried apricots very finely and add them in minimal quantities, you can drink kefir.

The delicacy will bring benefits to people suffering from stomach problems; dried apricots will be of great benefit to the liver. Also, a fermented milk drink with the addition of dried fruit will have a strengthening effect on joints and help improve the condition of facial skin.

Dried apricot puree

In the diet of babies, the healthiest dish will be a soft puree made from dried apricots. Do it as follows:

• several fresh dried fruits are soaked in water for 10 minutes and then washed thoroughly,
• the washed dried apricots are placed in water again, but for 5 hours, and then boiled for 10 minutes without changing the liquid,
• The finished dried fruits are ground in a blender along with the resulting broth until a completely homogeneous puree is obtained.

How to choose “store-bought” dried apricots

When buying dried apricots in a store, first of all, you need to carefully read the label on the package. Often on the shelves you can find dried apricots packaged independently by the retail chain. You should not purchase a product that does not have the original manufacturer's label.

The absence of an industrial label excludes the possibility of obtaining reliable information about the manufacturer, processing method, quality indicators and shelf life of such a product. For the same reason, you don’t need to buy dried apricots piled high on the counter.

When purchasing imported dried apricots in original packaging with a branded label, the second step is to inspect the integrity of the packaging and the appearance of the product. The packaging must be clean, undamaged, and the product in it must be uniform in color, free of dark spots and traces of pests.

There is no need to give preference to bright orange dried apricots with a glossy finish: such a product is clearly oversaturated with preservatives. The paler the dried apricots look, the greater the likelihood of minimal chemical processing [7].

How to eat dried fruits when losing weight?

There are few rules and they are extremely simple: definitely not at night and not on an empty stomach. The risk of exceeding the norm is too high. Choose foods with low and medium GI, do not mix them, so as not to increase the calorie content, and do not buy too much at once - your hand will endlessly reach for one more thing before the end of the package.

In the summer, when there is a choice between fresh fruits (the same plums and apricots) and their dehydrated relatives, give preference to the former. Save the concentrate for winter snacks, when, apart from citrus fruits and apples, there is not much to choose from on store shelves.

Porridge with dried fruits - a classic of the genre

Tip: dried fruits will also be an excellent addition to morning oatmeal and buckwheat, and a kefir cocktail with their addition will muffle the feeling of hunger and cleanse the body.

Homemade dried apricots

Home-dried dried apricots are a truly healthy product. To choose high-quality dried fruit, you need to pay attention to:

1. Appearance. The color of naturally dried apricot is orange-brown or brown. There should be no traces of mold on the surface of the dried apricots.
2. Smell: should be pronounced apricot, without foreign impurities or mustiness.
3. Consistency. Dried apricots should not be very soft or very dry.
4. Surface. The surface of dried fruits should not be sticky to the touch.

It is better to buy dried apricots for storage during the harvesting season (June-August). In this case, you don’t need to worry about the conditions in which it was stored.

The best option for preparing dried apricots is drying them at home. This can be done in several ways:

• on a flat surface in direct sunlight;
• in a suspended state (possibly in partial shade);
• in the dryer.

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When drying in this way, it is important that the apricot halves lose as much moisture as possible, otherwise they will quickly become moldy during storage. During drying, apricots lose up to 80% of their weight: for 1 kg of dried apricots, about 4 kg of fresh apricots are needed.

How many dried apricots can you eat per day?

There are different recommendations on how much dried apricots should be consumed during a diet. It depends on what regime you are currently following. If you want to snack on dried fruits as a sweet, then let them be no more than 30 grams per day. If you adhere to a diet, the main component of which is dried apricots, then the amount increases to 200-300 grams, which should be consumed in equal portions throughout the day.

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Storage conditions and periods

To ensure that dried apricots do not lose their beneficial properties and taste throughout the entire storage period, they must be stored at room temperature in a clean, dry glass jar with a closed lid. Plastic bags and fabric bags are not suitable for these purposes: dried apricots will quickly lose the remaining moisture, become moldy or “pull” other odors. Another reliable option for long-term storage of this dried fruit is freezing.

The shelf life of dried apricots is 12 months (until the next harvest), and when frozen - 18 months (provided there is no intermediate thawing).

Fasting day on dried apricots

Any body could use a fasting day, which will give the digestive tract a chance to rest. It is useful to choose dried apricots for it to activate intestinal cleansing and removal of excess fluid. The rules for unloading are simple. In the evening before the fasting day, steam about 300 grams of dried fruits in 400 grams of water. In the morning you need to drink the water from them, and divide the fruits into portions and eat them throughout the day. In addition to dried apricots for weight loss, consume as much liquid and green tea as possible to thoroughly flush the intestines and not gain weight.