Why is pear healthy

Pears are a delicious, low-calorie snack, and they're also chock-full of hard-to-get nutrients. Pears deliver a hefty amount of fiber, which helps keep you full and keeps your heart and gut healthy. Pears are also relatively low in calories and have no added sugar. Pair your pear with protein—think cheese or nuts—for a well-rounded healthy snack. Boasting 6 grams of fiber, pears have more fiber than a 1-cup serving of kale!

From helping you maintain a healthy weight to reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes , eating enough fiber is integral to a well-balanced diet. Not to mention, we're very thankful for the digestive benefits a high-fiber diet provides fiber makes your poop softer and bulkier, making it easier to go , and we love that we can get over 20 percent of our daily recommended value from a pear.

Even though pears have some natural sugar, their high fiber content ensures your blood sugar won't go soaring after eating one which makes them a perfect on-the-go snack for people with diabetes Plus, their low-glycemic index means you won't be hungry minutes after snacking on one. Try these tasty Roasted Pears with Prosciutto for a snack that'll leave you satisfied until your next meal.

Here's what a nutritionist wants you to know about this crisp, juicy fruit. Pears have been enjoyed for centuries for all of their juicy deliciousness. Considering that more than 3, varieties are grown worldwide, there's a pear for every palate—from soft and sweet to crisp and juicy. Pears have more going for them then the way they taste. This fruit also offers serious nutritional benefits. Pears may help with weight management, improve digestion, reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes , and much more.

A medium pear is a good source of vitamin C ; this fruit also packs in some potassium, vitamin K, copper, magnesium, and B vitamins, according to the USDA nutrient database. Pears are an excellent source of fiber, too, which helps keep your GI system regular.

Both apples and pears are thought to be particularly helpful at reducing diabetes risk because of their high fiber count, which is known to help keep blood sugar levels down. Pears are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre , there is growing evidence of the importance of fibre and the role it may play in the health of our gut microbiota the community of bacteria that live in our intestines and in preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes.

A study looking at the benefits of flavonoids, including the anthocyanins found in fruit like pears, suggests regular consumption may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Pears are low in calories and high in fibre and water which helps to keep you feeling full. A study investigating the effects of adding fruit, such as apples or pears, to the diet versus oats, found fruit helped reduce energy consumption and body weight over time.

Pears are rich in beneficial flavonoids that support the heart by improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In particular, a study looking at fruit intake, such as pears, found an association with improved blood lipids in women, suggesting a diet rich in these plant compounds may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. Further studies suggest that consuming fruit and vegetables and in particular, fruit such as apple and pears, is associated with a lower body mass index BMI , a reduced risk of stroke and a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Being rich in protective plant compounds like anthocyanins and cinnamic acid , by including fruit such as pears in the diet may help protect against certain cancers. Some people are allergic to pears — most notably, those with an allergy to the birch pollen group of plants. Signs of an allergy normally develop within minutes and can include itching of the mouth or throat, red patches on the skin or a cough and you should see your GP if you experience an adverse reaction. If more serious symptoms develop such as difficulty breathing, light-headedness or blue lips then this is a severe reaction, known as anaphylaxis, and requires immediate medical attention.

Read more from the NHS about allergic reactions. Pears are relatively high in fructose and sorbitol , natural sugars which some people find hard to absorb. In such people pears may initiate irritable bowel-like symptoms. Kerry Torrens BSc.