Various factors lead to a lower intake of fresh fruit, but dried fruits without sugar could offer a solution during the cold season. That's according to a new study that found dried fruits may be linked to better health. The researchers also found that eating dried fruits provides important nutrients andcontributes to calorie consumption.
Healthy nutrition with dried fruits without sugar
The results of the research conducted suggest that dried fruits can be part of a healthy diet with some limitations. So this could be a good choice for a nutritious snack during winter time. This includes, for example, raisins, dates, figs or apricots. However, consumers should make sure they choose unsweetened versions with no added sugar, the study authors said. However, portion sizes can be difficult to estimate because a serving of dried fruit is smaller than a serving of fresh fruit. Of course, this is because the water has been extracted. However, the positive side is that dried fruit pieces can help people consume more of them as they are portable and shelf-stable. Previous research has found that poor nutrition contributes to nearly half of deaths from cardiovascular disease. The lack of fruit is a main factor. According to the researchers, dried fruits without sugar provide a wealth of nutrients, including fiber, potassium and various heart-healthy bioactives.
Despite these benefits, other studies have found that people may not be consuming enough fruit for a variety of reasons. This is mainly due to its limited availability, cost and the fact that it spoils quickly. So in the current study, researchers wanted to investigate whether dried fruit can be a healthy alternative to fresh fruit because it is cheaper. Minimally processed fruits, including frozen, canned and dried fruits, have some advantages over fresh fruit, the study authors said. These are available all year round, are of relatively consistent quality and can last much longerstored freshbecome. Many of them are also cheaper per serving than their fresh equivalents.
Study results
After analyzing the data, researchers found that people who reported consuming dried fruit in the survey had healthier diets on average. They also tended to have lower body mass index and waist circumference, as well as lower systolic blood pressure. Additionally, the team found that participants consumed more carbohydrates overall through fiber, potassium, polyunsaturated fat, and overall total calories. This also suggests that the subjects were also more active. The authorsof the studyrecommend paying attention to calories when incorporating dried fruits and replacing them with calories from nutrient-poor foods to get the most benefit from consumption.
