We don’t have to tell you that the habit of munching on unhealthy snacks is not going to do your overall health any good, especially in the long run. So, instead of reaching for something fried, go for the likes of dried fruits. They come loaded with nutritious values ranging from fiber to a group of vitamins and potassium. Of course, if you snack on dried fruits, moderation is key and try picking the unsweetened kind without added sugar. Below are the 8 Reasons You Should Snack On Dried Fruits.
1) Good For Your Eye Health
If your job requires you to sit in front of the laptop all day long, snacking on dried fruits, notably dried apricot would do your eyes a huge favour. Apparently, dried apricots contain essential sources of vitamin A and E while it has beta-carotene that helps protect your eyes against damage.
2) Promote Weight Loss
Did you know that snacking on dried fruits can be helpful for losing weight? And if you happen to have low metabolism, dried fruits are an essential booster for that. Some of the weight loss-friendly dried fruits you can snack on includes dates, apricots, raisins and prunes.
3) Helps To Relieve Constipation
If you are prone to constipation, it’s time to increase your fiber intake. And as it turns out, dry fruits have loads of dietary fibers to help counter your constipation problem. So, keep your gut system healthy by snacking the likes of apricots, figs and raisins. Then, there are prunes, which according to the professor of internal medicine specialises in gastroenterology, Charlene Prather of SLUCare Physician Group pointed out that prunes are not only packed in fiber but also “contain sorbitol, which is a natural laxative”.
4) May Prevent UTIs
UTIs or commonly known as urinary traction infections, according to Mayo Clinic, happen “when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder”. Those who suffer from UTIs, especially women, would experience difficulties such as pelvic pain as well as frequent and painful urination. Fortunately, you may prevent UTIs by trying to snack on dried cranberries. There’s even a 2013 study from Nutrition Journal reported that women who had the recurrent problem are able to spend “more days UTI-free over six months compared with past control groups”. This happened after they consumed one serving of sweetened dried cranberries a day for a period of two weeks.
5) Improve Your Bone Health
Apparently, milk isn’t the only thing that promotes bone health. Enter dried fruits such as figs and prunes, with the latter packed with calcium and vitamin D — two of the essential nutrients that help to improve your bone health. Prunes are also good for preventing osteoporosis in later life, thanks to their rich source of nutrients such as vitamin K and magnesium. Another bone health-friendly dried fruits you can snack on is apricots, which has boron — a natural mineral responsible for supporting the composition, structure and strength of your bones.
6) Combat Stress
Stressed from work? Try snacking on dried fruits, namely dried berries (e.g. strawberries, raspberries) since they contain anti-inflammatory properties and also high in antioxidants. You can also try dried cranberries and goji berries, where both of them are just as rich in antioxidants.
7) Promote Heart Health
Good news for those who love to snack on raisins. Typically available in small boxes and tubs in most supermarkets, raisins are packed with the goodness of iron, potassium, vitamin B6 and copper. Among the nutritional benefits that you can get from snacking raisins is reducing the risk of heart disease. Thanks to the fiber content found in the raisins, they help to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol, which in turn, benefits your heart health.
8) Keep Your Skin Healthy
Believe it or not, snacking on dried fruits promotes skin health since they are packed with antioxidants and essential oils. These nutrients, of course, help to rejuvenate the skin and may even prevent the effect of ageing. Some of the recommended dried fruits for your skin health include raisins, apricots and prunes.
