Pears are related to apples. Homer described the pear as a gift from the gods. The pear is nice and juicy and contains a lot of fiber. It is a healthy thirst quencher on a hot summer day. The pear originates from western Asia. The pear was already eaten in the Stone Age. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Pears; lots of healthy fiber
• Macular degeneration
• Nutrients in pear
• Health benefits of pear
• Pear eating tips

Pears; lots of healthy fiber

Pears are a typical Dutch fruit. They are widely grown in the Netherlands, but Dutch pear production is far exceeded in the US, China and Italy. The pear is quite healthy.Pears contain no significant minerals and only 2 vitamins : C and K. Pears do contain a lot of fiber, which is good for evenly digesting food. Pears, together with apples, plums, dates and figs, are among the fruits with the most fiber. An 8-year study among more than 50,000 postmenopausal women found that women who ate a lot of fiber had a 34% lower risk of developing breast cancer. Fibers also ensure that energy is absorbed very evenly into the blood, preventing large fluctuations in blood sugar levels. This makes you feel tired less quickly. Fiber-containing fruits are a good way for diabetes mellitus patients to reduce their fluctuations in insulin production.Pear blossom / Source: Elf, Wikimedia Commons (GFDL)

Macular degeneration

Pears work well against macular degeneration. A study involving 110,000 people showed that those who ate 3 or more pieces of fruit per day were less likely to develop macular degeneration. This is an eye disease that causes you to see less and less until blindness follows. The healing effect is mainly due to the antioxidant effect of pear.

Nutrients in pear

Pears contain a lot of potassium, copper and vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the strongest antioxidants. Copper is also an antioxidant. Austrian research showed that the number of antioxidants increases as the pear ripens. In fact, the pear is healthiest when it is almost overripe. Pears are rarely found ripe in the store. They can quickly break during transport. That is why you should place the unripe pear in the fruit bowl for a few days. When it is placed in a bowl together with other fruits, it ripens faster.Dried pear / Source: Vicki Nunn, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Health benefits of pear

Pears are rich in boron. This phytonutrient helps calcium to make bones stronger. This makes the pear good against osteoporosis. Furthermore, eating pears has a preventive effect against cancer. Fiber in pears specifically works against colon cancer. Vitamin C and copper work well against cancer formation anywhere in the body due to their anti-inflammatory capacity at the cell level. They counteract free radicals that cause cell damage and DNA damage.

Pear eating tips

Pears are delicious in combination with blue cheese. Try making a green salad with lettuce, blue cheese and pears. Pears can also be added to a fruit salad together with mandarin, mango, papaya, banana, orange, kiwi and strawberry. It is delicious to eat a peeled pear in combination with ice cream; preferably home-made ice cream.

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