FRUIT SPECIAL ......PEAR GOOD FOR YOUR GUT

PEAR GOOD FOR YOUR GUT

Recent studies have indicated that pear consumption potentially improves guthealth, setting the stage for further evidence of associated health benefits.

The study included in vitro, animal, clinical and epidemiologic tests.

Pears are an excellent source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C for only  100 calories per serving. One medium pear provides about 24 percent of daily fiber needs. They are sodium-free, cholesterol-free, fat-free and contain 190 mg of potassium. The dietary guidelines says people who eat more fruits as part of  an overall healthy diet are likely to reduce their risk of some chronic diseases, although little is published on the health outcomes associated with individual fruits, including pears

In the review conducted by Slavin and Reiland, pears were found to be a source of fructose, sorbitol and dietary fiber. “The high content of dietary fiber in pears and their effects on gut health set pears apart from other fruit and deserves further study ,“ said Slavin.

To explore the potential health benefits associated with pear consumption and related health outcomes, Joanne Slavinassisted by food science graduate

Holly Reiland, conducted a systematic review of studies from PubMed

(database of the National Library of Medicine) and Agricola

(database of the National Agricultural Library from 1970 to present.

Slavin found the body of evidence for a relationship between pear intake

and health outcomes to be sparse and diverse and believes intervention

studies with pears that show positive health outcomes, most likely improvements in gut health, are needed.

According to Slavin, an epidemiologic cohort study found, among individual fruit and vegetable subgroups, inverse associations with total stroke and the consumption of pears, along with apples and leafy green vegetables.

In a meta-analysis of twenty prospective cohort studies found applespears,

citrus fruits and leafy vegetables might contribute to stroke protection.

For nutritional reasons, we're often advised to consume the skins of fruits.

However, it's less often that research provides strong evidence in support of

this advice. Recent studies have shown that the skin of pears contains at least three to four times as many phenolic phytonutrients as the flesh. These

phytonutrients include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory flavonoids, and

potentially anti-cancer phytonutrients like cinnamic acids.

The skin of the pear has also been show to contain about half of the pear's

total dietary fiber.

An epidemiologic study linked the consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods,

 particularly pears, apples and blueberries, with lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.

An additional epidemiologic study indicated flavonoid-rich foods including

 pears were associated with a significant reduction in mortality from coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

BT 23OCT15