With colder temperatures come less fresh fruit. At the grocery store, how wide a variety of fresh fruit do you see? While Chili and Mexico help sell us fruit, the numbers in winter versus summer have a large spread. Wintertime allows us to partake of dried fruits, something not considered in the summer. But are they good for you? What health benefits are there?
Dried fruits are healthy and helpful to your body in many surprising ways.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. This develops when the cushioning cartilage in your joints wears down, leading to pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving.
Certain risk factors, like age or family history, and lifestyle choices cannot be altered. However, diet can influence how our joints age. And new research suggests that a straightforward food may play a helpful role: dried fruit. People who eat dried fruit have a slightly lower risk of developing OA.
How Does Dried Fruit Help?
We know what dried fruits are: like raisins, prunes, and cranberries. What exactly do they do?
1. They have antioxidants that fight cell damage that wears down cartilage.
2. They include anti-inflammatory ingredients that ease swelling and joint pain.
3. They are examples of necessary minerals like magnesium and selenium, which aid in joint health.
4. Dried fruit has gut health benefits.
What About Sugars And Carbs?
Dried fruit is a concentrated source of nutrition, offering vitamins, minerals, and fiber in a neat package. However, because the water is removed, dried fruit is more calorie-dense and sugar-dense than fresh fruit.
A typical ¼ cup serving (about a small handful) has 100 calories, around 20 grams of sugar, and up to 3 grams of fiber. Fruits like prunes and dates are naturally sweeter, and apricots and apples are lower in sugar.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), just ¼ cup of dried fruit counts as one serving of fruit. Most adults need about 1½ to 2 cups of fruit each day, so dried fruit can definitely be part of meeting that goal. Nonetheless, as dried fruits are concentrated, they are best used to supplement fresh fruit rather than replace it.
This new research suggests that eating dried fruit regularly could help lower your risk of osteoarthritis over time. It’s not a magic fix, but it’s an easy, tasty habit that may give your joints a boost, along with plenty of other health benefits.
