Powerful Pears!

Whether green, red, yellow or gold, pears are rich in a variety of nutrients including vitamin C, and K, copper, fibre and a wide array of phyto- nutrients.

To reap the benefits of the pear’s antioxidant content, be sure to eat the skins which contain up to four times as many phyto-nutrients than the flesh. Furthermore, half of the pear’s fibre is contained in the skin.

The soluble and insoluble fibre content of pears has many health benefits. Fibre in the diet can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by helping to regulate blood sugar levels. The fibre binds with bile acids in the gut which will help to regulate cholesterol production. High fibre in the diet helps to reduce the risk of many gut problems and helps with the general digestion and the comparatively lower acid content in pears is also believed to assist with this. Moreover, a healthy gut ensures that toxins are flushed out of the digestive system more effectively. Additionally the fibre found in pears may help you to feel fuller for longer which can aid weight control.

Pears also have anti- cancer properties; the pear’s fibre binds with a special group of bile acids which help to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Furthermore, it is the phyto-nutrients in pears that have been show in studies, to reduce the risk of stomach cancer.

The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of the phyto- nutrients contained in pears will help to prevent many other chronic conditions including heart disease.

Pears are delicious in smoothies, sorbets and chopped into salads. They are wonderful teamed with blue cheese, chopped into your morning porridge or poached to create a decadent desert.

My weekly ‘Nutritional Nugget’ written for Fields to Fork Organics

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