Summer continues to delight us with the long-awaited warmth, but we were looking forward to not only this. July is always the appearance on the shelves of our bright and juicy favorites: apricots, peaches and beautiful cherries. These fruits bring such joyful variety to the usual still life of bananas and apples. Therefore, we are happy to buy southern fruits. Cherry is one of the first to come to us.
It was grown in the Mediterranean countries in ancient times. And in the Middle Ages, it was already common throughout Western Europe. Not only people loved to feast on cherries, so it was called Cerasus avium, which means “bird cherry” in Latin. Now in the southern regions and in the Crimea, she has become a full-fledged mistress of the gardens. The main advantage of the sweet cherry over other fruits is that it appears first, while the rest of the fruits are just being formed.
Cherry fruits differ from each other in color: yellow, red, dark cherry and, depending on this, in the percentage of sugars and organic acids. For example, the darkest fruits are rich in substances from the group of anthocyanins and carotenoids, which are very useful for atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Cherry fruits contain organic acids, sugars – up to 1 1.5 percent. Nutrients found in cherries are especially beneficial for children – this is provitamin A, vitamins C and P, group B, nicotinic acid, a lot of phosphorus, calcium and iron. Of the trace elements – iodine, fluorine, chromium, silicon, nickel, cobalt, zinc, copper, manganese. Cherries have significantly more carbohydrates than cherries. It contains pectins, acids with a predominance of malic. And perhaps most importantly, potassium, which is so necessary for our cardiovascular system.
has almost every fruit, and cherries are no exception. A handful of delicious multi-colored berries can be an effective help:
- in kidney diseases: stimulates their activity;
- for hypertension: a glass of dark red cherries is a real therapeutic dose;
- for arthritis, rheumatism and gout: cherries act as an anesthetic,
- with intestinal atony, spastic colitis: you can drink concentrated cherry juice (1 tablespoon 3 times a day).
- with anemia, sweet cherries supply the body with a large amount of iron and vitamins.
The mask of sweet cherries perfectly tightens pores and has not only astringent, but also a mild cleansing, exfoliating effect. The more acidic the berry is, the more suitable it is for oily skin. And vice versa. So do not be discouraged if you chose sour cherries. “Feed” your skin with it.
Often, together with cherries, and it happens that even before it, they come to us
apricots.
These are our guests from Asia, from the Far East. They still smell of languid oriental exoticism! Still would! Indeed, in China, for example, the peach, a relative of the apricot, was considered a “mystical figure”: it performed a complex function as a symbol of female sexuality. Of course, the shape of this fruit with a delicate skin and an intoxicating smell was important. Poets and philosophers have excelled in complimenting this fragrant, alluring fruit.
Although apricots did not cause euphoria among ancient poets and philosophers, scientists who studied the living conditions of some tribes believe that their longevity is explained by the traditional abundant consumption of apricots.
Fresh ripe apricots are high in fiber and low in calories and are a good source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant.which prevents the development of cancer and heart disease.
Apricots are rich in provitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, PP, phosphorus and iron. Their main dietary advantage lies in the increased content of potassium – in fresh fruits, its share reaches 350 mg% per 100 g of product.
apricots are for those who suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and obesity. And due to the high content of phosphorus and magnesium, they improve memory and increase efficiency, have a positive effect on the vessels of the brain. These fruits support performance and help to endure neuro-emotional overload.
Apricot juice is an excellent multivitamin that is useful for all healthy people. And simply invaluable for anemia, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, diseases of the oral mucosa, trophic ulcers of the leg.
it is worth getting rich on apricots: according to cosmetologists, apricot puree applied to the face and décolleté restores dry, tired, wrinkled skin, supplies it with beta-carotene (cosmetologists call it “beauty vitamin”) and returns a fresh look!
Dried apricots (dried apricots)
are also very popular. However, it should be borne in mind that dried apricots have more calories than fresh ones. But they are considered very beneficial for health, since they contain many nutrients in a concentrated form. For example, during several space flights they were included in the diet of American astronauts. It is believed that when dried, apricots increase the concentration of beta-carotene, potassium and iron.
However, unfortunately, these magnificent fruits also have contraindications: cherries, peaches, and apricots are contraindicated for people suffering from diabetes.
Peaches and apricots are often picked green to prevent them from being overripe and spoiled during the journey. Such fruits, even with bright colors, remain hard, and their delicate skin is easily injured, exposing unripe pulp – clear signs that this is “not your” product.
As for cherries – look at the stem. It should be greenish, not yellow or even brown. The latter suggests that the berry is clearly overripe and should not be bought. When choosing southern products, be picky! After all, in the East it is customary to try, sort out and bargain?!
