Apricot

If there is such thing as a perfect food, it may be the apricot. Lightly sweet but not candylike, packed with fiber and nutrients, and the perfect accompaniment to something with carbs to fill out a snack, the apricot is at the top of the list when it comes to foods you should add to your diet. Unfortunately, fresh apricots are fragile. They bruise easily, and they won’t survive the day stuffed in a briefcase for midafternoon consumption. You will just end up with apricot mush all over your important papers. Luckily, there is an easier way to enjoy the many upsides to apricots. When you buy dried apricots, you get the same health benefits and nutrition as you would with fresh ones.

Here’s a look at why dried apricots are such an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle. Just one serving of our California dried apricots has 4 grams of fiber, or 16 percent of your recommended daily value. Toss them on top of a salad and sprinkle it with sunflower seeds, and you will have a quarter of your daily needs taken care of. Fiber is a vital part of any well-balanced diet. It ensures your digestive tract runs with regularity, cleaning out the impurities in your body. When you eat a diet high in fiber, you also naturally regulate your weight and may even reduce your cholesterol levels. If you usually hit the vending machine for a snack at work, you are much better off eating a handful of dried apricots. A single serving of our Turkish apricots contains 120 calories, about half the number in your average candy bar or bag of potato chips.

Plus, although they are low in calories, they contain so much fiber and nutrients, you won’t feel hungry again for hours. Dried apricots have calcium, which strengthens your bones and preserves nerve function. They also include magnesium. Do you suffer from anxiety? Magnesium has calming qualities that can assist anyone who feels anxious or stressed. It can also aid with muscle spasms and cramps, in addition to providing relief for insomnia. If you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, have a few dried apricots, which also provide energy. With their deep orange or brown color, depending on what variety you purchase, dried apricots are also rich in vitamin A.