Can dried apricots with diabetes?

For most people, dried apricots is a favorite treat. Indeed, this type of dried fruit is healthy and has a pleasant taste. But regarding people with diabetes, experts still have not come to a consensus. Since dried apricots have a high sugar content, some professionals have doubts about the usefulness of the product for diabetics.

Another group of doctors, relying on the latest scientific data in this area, believes that dried apricots can be eaten even by patients with type 2 diabetes. The fact is that everything depends on the glycemic index. If this indicator is within the normal range, then dried apricots in small quantities can be added to the diet. The main thing is to stick to the product to bring real health benefits.

The relevance of dried apricots in diabetes

As already noted, dried apricots is one of the varieties of dried fruits. In fact, this is dried apricot. Therefore, all the valuable components of the fresh fruit are completely stored in it. It is this feature of dried apricots that provides the whole complex of properties that the product possesses. So in dried apricots there are salts of potassium and magnesium, and they improve the condition of the vascular walls and favorably affect the work of the heart. There is a lot of iron in dried apricots - an element without which normal blood formation is impossible.

In addition to these components, dried apricot fruits contain:

• vitamin complex, including ascorbic acid (vitamin "C");
• organic acids;
• inulin (glucose agent);
• carotenes;
• pectin;
• proteins;
• carbohydrates.

This list of components allows us to judge the high usefulness of dried apricots. For patients with diabetes of both types, this product serves as a source of the necessary vitamins.

An important point! The calorie content of dried apricots exceeds the energy value of fresh fruits. It is 250 kcal per 100g, and the glycemic index is 35.

Beneficial features

For patients with high sugar levels, dried apricots are both beneficial and harmful. But experts still do not advise completely abandoning such a valuable product. Although dried apricots have a high percentage of sugar, with a satisfactory glycemic index they are extremely beneficial for diabetics.

A positive effect on the body is expressed in the following properties of dried apricots:

• normalizes hemoglobin level;
• possesses a pronounced antioxidant property, therefore it well cleanses the body of toxins;
• improves cardiovascular function;
• stimulates the immune system;
• well reduces pressure;
• strengthens the vascular walls and improves their tone;
• relieves of the main manifestations of toxicosis - nausea and heartburn;
• has good diuretic abilities, which helps to eliminate swelling;
• contributes to the normal process of blood formation.

In addition to the characteristics already listed, it can be added that dried apricots to some extent possess antiseptic abilities. Experts believe that this type of dried fruit can be used as a prophylactic in some types of oncology. By the way, this is not a hypothesis, but the statement of scientists already substantiated by the results of research.

With the proper use of dried apricots, patients with diabetes can ease the course of diseases concomitant with the main pathology:

• liver problems;
• kidney disease;
• cardiac pathologies.

How to use the product

Nutritionists and doctors advise patients with diabetes to eat a fruit mix of dried fruits.The combination of dried apricots with other dried fruits will bring more benefits, and the taste of such a composite dish is much richer. You can add nuts to dried fruits. Separately, it is necessary to dwell on the norms acceptable for diabetes. These options are as follows:

1. The daily portion (maximum) for type 1 is 50 g, for 2 - 100 g.
2. In its pure form, dried apricots should not be used; it is better to add it to other dishes of the diet.
3. So that dried fruits do not lose useful qualities, it is better not to heat them.
4. Dried apricots goes well with meat base, so you can safely add it to salads or prepare desserts.
5. If there are restrictions on the use of dried apricots, you should eat no more than two slices of apricot per day.

An important point! If you eat dried apricots uncontrollably, sugar can jump sharply. Abuse is also fraught with allergic manifestations.

Contraindications

Despite the obvious advantages of dried apricots, the product has its drawbacks. Therefore, the negative aspects must also be taken into account when it comes to patients with such a serious diagnosis as diabetes. It is recommended to limit the use of dried apricots to such patients if, in addition to the main diagnosis, they have:

• intestinal problems;
• digestive disorders;
• peptic ulcer;
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
• tendency to hypotension.

Dried apricots should be carefully used for women during lactation.

The dangers of a product can be discussed only if the product was processed in violation of the rules or subjected to processing by chemical agents.

Selection rules

When choosing high-quality dried apricots, you should focus on four main parameters:

1. The color of the product should be even without stains and traces of mold.
2. The taste of properly dried fruits is pleasant without a hint of bitterness.
3. The pulp should have a dense consistency. When pressing on the surface, the coloring pigment should not remain on the hands.
4. Size also matters, because ripe apricots have large parameters. Then they are juicy, and when dried from such berries, dried apricots of good quality are obtained.

Even in the case when the quality of the product is not in doubt, dried apricots should be soaked before use for a third of an hour in cold water, and then washed.

Video: what is right for diabetics to eat dried apricots