Taken from
Health Magazine, January/February 2005
BY Domenica Marchetti
As the weather gets colder, fewer options are available for getting your daily fruit fix. Enter dried fruit, which is nature's way of getting you through the winter. Gone are the days when it was relegated to the yearly fruitcake or eaten purely for the fiber boost. With choices like dried blueberries and cherries now on store shelves, you can enjoy and cook with your summer favorites year-round.
Dried fruits have benefits that extend far beyond the kitchen. They're tiny, concentrated packages of nutrition, high in
fiber, potassium, and other nutrients. A quarter-cup of dried figs, for example, has about 60 milligrams of calcium, nearly twice as much as the same amount of low-fat cottage cheese, which has 35 milligrams. And about five dried apricots give you 36 per cent of the Daily Value for Vitamin A.
Recent studies have shown that dried fruit is also high in antioxidants and may offer many of the same health benefits as fresh. A study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that fresh blueberries had the highest
antioxidant levels of 41 fruits and vegetables the researchers tested. Dried blueberries, however, pack an even bigger punch, with four times the antioxidants of their fresh counterparts, according to Charles M. Mainland, PhD, a blueberry researcher.
{
This sounds so dubious. How can dried blueberries contain more antioxidants than fresh ones? So I did some research and this is what goaskalice and Dr Weil say: It's fine to substitute dried blueberries for fresh or frozen ones. In all three forms, these berries are packed with nutritional power. The anthocyanins they contain (the pigments that make them blue) are potent
antioxidants. BUT Up to 40 or 50 percent of the
antioxidants in blueberries are lost in the drying process, meaning fresh and frozen blueberries have more antioxidants than dried ones. Certain drying processes may remove more antioxidants than others — specifically blueberries that are heat dried and processed with an osmotic treatment (soaking the blueberries in a solution that helps them dry faster) lose more than those that don’t get an osmotic treatment. Also, freeze-dried blueberries tend to lose fewer antioxidants than those that are heat dried.
AND... One cup of fresh blueberries contains about 84
calories and 15 grams of
sugar, while one cup of dried blueberries has over 500 calories and 100 grams of sugar. So, while you might be able to eat raw blueberries in larger quantities without worry, paying attention to portion size may be important when eating them dried (especially for diabetics!).
http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/health-benefits-dried-vs-fresh-blueberries }
Moreover, new research has found that dried plums (prunes) appear to slow the progression of heart disease. "Compounds called chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids may be involved in this beneficial effect," says Daniel Gallaher, PhD, a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Plus, figs contain numerous antiocidants and, surprisingly, heart-protective omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Despite all of these benefits, dieticians still recommend not going overboard on the amount of dried fruit you eat. Because it has less water than fresh fruit, it also has a
higher proportion of sugar and
calories. What's more, sugar is added to some dried fruits to balance their tartness, and the drying process can
deplete vitamin C content.
Another consideration: Fruits such as apples and apricots, which darken when exposed to the air, are often treated with
sulphites to keep them from discolouring. Though these chemicals are harmless to most people, they can cause allergic reactions in a few, and in rare cases, even death. Look for untreated fruit at health-food stores and some supermarkets.
........... We swear that you'll never look at those shrivelled skins the same way again.
Dried fruit has NO CHOLESTEROL and a negligible amount of fat. Once you get past its wrinkly appearance, you'll enjoy the intense flavour and chewy, satisfying texture. This handy chart compares
six of the most nutrient-packed fruits.
BLUEBERRIES
Benefits: Highest antioxidant content among dried fruits, which helps neutralise free radicals and may reduce cholesterol buildup.
How to use: Stir into oatmeal or muffin or scone batter. Sprinkle over spinach salad, or fold into chicken, turkey, or carrot salad.
PLUMS/ PRUNES
Benefits: Antioxidants and other compounds in dried plums may sloiw the progression of heart disease. One cup contains more iron than a cup of cooked chicken. This fruit also helps keep you downright regular.
How to use: Sautee with diced onions or shallots and Cognac, and use as a stuffing for roast pork loin; add to a cinnamon-spiced Moroccan lamb tagine along with onions, tomatoes, and winter squash.
TART CHERRIES
Benefits: Rich in antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties; high in melatonin, a potent free-radical scavenger and sleep-cycle regulator
How to use: Toss into your morning cereal, or create red slaw by tossing together dried tart cherries, red cabbage, red onions, and red peppers in a dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, and
black pepper.
FIGS
Benefits: Contain omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, which may protect against heart disease. Also has phytosterols, which may help lower cholesterol.
How to use: Stuff with walnuts for a quick appetiser; make a winter smoothie by pureeing with bananas, yoghurt, honey, and mint in a blender; dice and add to a mesclun salad.
PAPAYA
Benefits: Good source of papain, an enzyme that aids digestion and is used as a meat tenderizer; heat from the drying process may reduce its effectiveness, however.
How to use: Dice finely and add to rice pilaf, or stir into curry sauce and serve over chicken or fish.
