Pears are one of the most juicy and sweet of fruits and have a succulent and grainy texture. Along with the creamy white color of the flesh, this fruit was once called a “gift from the gods”.
Health Benefits
Pears are a great source of the 2 antioxidant nutrients vitamin C and copper. As antioxidants they help protect our cells from the damaging effects of unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant in water based cells and is necessary for a healthy immune system. It stimulates white blood cells to tackle viruses like cold and flu.
Copper is needed to create one of our most powerful internal antioxidants called superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD is needed to disarm specific kinds of free radicals called superoxide radicals, which are created during necessary internal chemical reactions that go on inside us all the time.
High in Fiber
Pears are one of the best fruits in terms of its high fiber content. Diets high in fiber have been shown in many studies to lower cholesterol levels. This is great news for those with atherosclerosis or those who have heart disease as a result of diabetes.
Fiber has also been shown to reduce our risk of developing colon cancer. Fiber can bind with cancer causing chemicals that can found in the colon and remove them before they can cause inflammation and cell damage that creates colon cancer. It is also good to know that a diet low in copper has also been associated with increased risk of colon cancer. Copper helps to create enzymes that neutralize free radicals that are generated in fecal matter. So the high copper and high fiber content of a pair are a great duo for colon health.
One prospective study that included more than 50,000 post-menopausal female volunteers discovered that those who ate the most fiber were less likely to develop breast cancer. Over a period of 8 years, those who ate the most fiber displayed a 34% reduction in breast cancer risk than those who at the least cancer.
A specific kind of pear called an Asian pear benefits us further, because it has an even higher content of fiber than European or American varieties of pears.