With their grainy yet buttery texture pears are great by themselves or in a dish. And being so sweet, you would never guess the nutritional benefits this little fruit packs. Rich with fiber, pectin, and phytonutrients, a pear is a fruit you can’t go wrong with.
- Fiber – Just one pear provides 6 grams of both soluble and insoluble fiber! The skin of the fruit is where the insoluble fiber is found while the flesh contains the soluble fiber. It is this combination of fiber that allows the body to manage blood sugar levels by fully metabolizing sugars over time rather than instantly converting them to fat storage.
- Pectin – Pectin is a type of soluble fiber that binds to fatty substances in the digestive tract to help remove them from the body. This function promotes healthy digestion. Because cholesterol is a fatty substance, pectin also helps to eliminate LDL, and in effect lowers cholesterol levels.
- Phytonutrients – From vitamin C to catechins to anthocyanins, pears have them all. These phytonutrients have the ability to function as antioxidants to fight off free radicals, and the abundance of them in pears makes the pear therapeutic against many disease conditions and cancers.
Though the nutrients in a pear will stay relatively the same throughout its ripening, for the best taste pears should be eaten when the skin near the stem gives slightly. Try a fresh pear in a salad, oven dry them for a new snack, or pair them with cheese for a delicious appetizer. Just as much as your taste buds will love them, your health will too.