Pears are very much like apples – sweet, succulent and juicy. Because they are available all year round, one can easily enjoy the health benefits that the pear fruit can offer.

There are different varieties of pears: Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, Seckel and Anjou.

• •  Bartlett pears are the most common ones. This is a juicy and sweet kind of pear usually with a green skin that tends to turn yellow when it ripens. Sometimes, a blush of red could be seen too. This is the kind of pear that is canned.
  
  
• Bosc pears are most common during winter time. Their matted skin is brownish-yellow in color and their flesh is creamy white. This type of pear is most often used in baking and cooking.
• Comice pears are considered as the best pears for eating. Their skin is smooth and their flesh is really sweet.
• Seckel pears are the smallest in size, with spicy, sweet and grainy flesh. This type of pear is also good for cooking.
• Anjou pears are all-around pears. They are good both for eating and cooking purposes. Their colors stay the same whether they are raw or ripe and they possess a sweet, juicy taste.

But regardless of the variety, what is important is that you get the health benefits that a pear can offer you.

Nutritional Facts of Pears

Pears are rich sources of fiber – the water soluble kind. They also contain vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E as well as minerals such as niacin, boron, folic acid, potassium, copper and phosphorus. Trace amounts of sulfur, sodium, magnesium, iron, chlorine and calcium can also be found. The iron content in each pear variety is different. As soon as you cut a pear in half, observe the way it turns brown. If the pear you just bought did not turn brown, this means that the iron content is either non-existent or very low.

Pears have higher pectin content compared to apples. This gives pears the ability to help lower the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) inside the body. And because it has high fiber content also, it helps with digestion and also aids in intestinal toning. The pear fruit is also hypoallergenic and it is considered as a safe fruit to be introduced to infants who are already starting to eat.

How to Buy Pears

Buying pears may be tricky. After all, you really can’t tell whether the fruit tastes good simply by looking at it from the outside. The physical appearance of the fruit alone does not speak volumes on how it was handled – from growing, harvesting and storing. However, you can develop a critical eye once you know what to look for in a pear when buying.

First things first: do not buy a pear with a bruised or broken skin. An unappealing skin may tell you that it may have been handled too roughly and might have taken a bad fall. Then, choose unripe pears. Choose the ones that are still hard and then leave them to ripen off in your kitchen counter at home. If you want to accelerate the ripening process, place the pears inside a paper bag but do not refrigerate. Instead, let them ripen at room temperature. Once they have ripened, store them inside the refrigerator to keep them fresh – just remember not to let them become too ripe that they become too mushy for consumption.

Health Benefits of Pears

Aside from the refreshing flavor that you can get from eating pears, the most important reason for you to indulge in one is because it is good for your health. The pear fruit offers a lot of health benefits, and here are some of the very best ones:

• It Fights Free Radicals

  Free radicals are by-products of the oxidative process, and which can cause damage to our body cells. These substances are said to be the culprits in the development of certain health conditions such as heart disease, cancer and premature aging. Pears are very rich in copper, vitamin C and vitamin K which act as potent antioxidants that offer the cells the protection that it needs.

• It protects the Heart

  As previously mentioned, pears are rich sources of water soluble fiber. The fiber acts as a sweeper, sweeping away bad cholesterol and flushing it out of the body. This claim has been supported by studies, all one in saying that the fiber in pears has a protective effect on the heart. Furthermore, eating pears can reduce a person’s risk of having a stroke by up to a whopping fifty percent!

• It Helps Fight Cancer

  Pears also help reduce the risk of developing colon cancer through its fiber content. The chemicals from the food that we eat and which are now found in the colon binds to the fiber in pear and are then flushed out of the body. Numerous studies conducted among post-menopausal women revealed that regular consumption of fruits that are rich in fiber, such as pears, can lower the woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

• It Helps Control Diabetes

  The low glycemic index of pears makes them the most suitable snack of choice for people diagnosed with diabetes. It does not cause an abrupt spike in blood sugar levels thereby helping control the levels of blood glucose of a diabetic patient. Plus the fact that it is not too sweet, a pear can satisfy a sweet tooth’s craving in a much healthier way compared to cakes and ice cream.

• It prevents constipation

  Looks like the fiber alone in pear is enough to give one a lot of health benefits! Once again, the fiber helps in improving the function of the digestive system, allowing for proper digestion and elimination. Plus, the pectin content of the pear fruit exerts a mild laxative effect. Regular consumption of pear juice helps in bowel movement regulation.

• It provides energy

  The glucose and fructose found in pears provide natural and quick bursts of energy all throughout the day.

• It reduces risk of osteoporosis

  Boron found in pears aids the body in retaining calcium, which is necessary for strong bones.

Sources
naturalhomeandgarden.com
juicing-for-health.com
everynutrient.com
thecitycook.com