Are there vitamins in pears? What are the vitamins in the pear? Varieties and cultivation

One of the healthiest and most loved fruits is the pear. It has a balanced nutritional value and low calorie content, which is why it is so loved by many consumers. The variety of minerals and vitamins in the pear make it a highly recommended food for your daily diet. In moderate quantities, it increases immunity, normalizes the functioning of internal organs and prevents the development of many diseases.

Useful components

One of the main advantages of the fruit is its low calorie content: 100 g of ripe fruit contains only 42 kcal. For this reason, it can be consumed by everyone, even those people who are overweight.

An exception is drying - 100 g of dried pear contains 270 kcal. The high nutritional value is due to the high carbohydrate content. With excessive use, there is a high risk of gaining excess weight.

What vitamins are in the pear - A, E, C, PP, P, as well as everything from group B. The fruit is rich in macro- and microelements - Fe, Na, K, Ca, Cu, S, I, Mn, Zn.

The peel and pulp have a high content of folic acid, dietary fiber, sugar, carotene, glucose and fructose.

100 g of pulp contains:

• proteins - 0.4 g;
• carbohydrates - 10.5 g;
• fat - 0.3 g;
• ash - 0.6 g;
• water - 85 g.

Healing properties

The beneficial properties of the fruit are:

• has a beneficial effect on the work of the pancreas;
• lowers cholesterol and sugar levels in diabetics;
• has a tonic effect - increases immunity from various infectious diseases;
• in combination with the main drug treatment, eliminates inflammatory processes in the body;
• due to the increased content of essential oils, it relieves the symptoms of depression and neuroses, normalizes the functions of the central nervous system;
• for intestinal disorders, a drink made from dried fruits is useful, which has an astringent effect and eliminates diarrhea;
• with regular use, normalizes stool;
• elasticity of blood vessels is provided by ascorbic acid;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
• restores normal intestinal flora.

Pear juice is very useful for acute bronchitis. A baked or boiled pear is a good antitussive agent for bronchitis and tuberculosis.

Sulfur strengthens bones, hair and nails. Potassium is good for the thyroid gland, improves the absorption of iron and increases hemoglobin. Folic acid improves blood composition and quality. Useful acids in the pulp have a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, kidneys, liver, accelerate the processes of metabolism and metabolism.

Pear has a tonic effect - it improves mood and normalizes the heartbeat. In folk medicine, this fruit is successfully used in the treatment of prostatitis in men. It is also useful for the prevention of this and similar diseases.

Dangerous properties

The pear should be eaten before or after meals, maintaining an interval of at least 30 minutes. When combined with other foods, it can provoke indigestion (heaviness and bloating). The best time to eat fruit is after breakfast or lunch.

After eating a pear, you should not drink water - this can provoke diarrhea and diarrhea.

For older people, experts advise eating baked or fresh soft pears, since hard fruits can cause problems with the digestive tract.

Such a product is contraindicated for people with allergies.

The maximum usefulness of pears for the body is noted with moderate use:

• the norm per day for people suffering from obesity or diabetes mellitus is 100 g;
• for a healthy person - one or two fruits.

Selection rules

For maximum benefit, you should give preference to quality fruits, rich in vitamins, minerals and useful components.

You should choose a product based on smell, appearance and touch. Well-ripened, healthy fruits have a rich pear aroma. They should be free of dents, black spots and mold. Preference should be given to hard fruits, which can be ripened at home in a warm place in 2-3 days.

The best varieties

There are some of the tastiest and healthiest pear varieties that are most in demand in the consumer market.

1. Duchess. It has a rich aroma, juiciness and increased sweetness. The skin color is bright yellow, a pale pink blush is noticeable on the barrel. The base is spherical, closer to the tail the fruit is narrowed. The fruit is very soft, tender, does not have a long shelf life, so it is consumed within 10 days after picking.
2. Chinese (Ya). Fruits are pale yellow in color, dense, round in shape. Quite crispy and firm with moderate sweetness on the palate.
3. Williams. This variety is often used in baby food. The pulp is very tender and sweet. The skin is light green with a blush.

Since a fruit such as a pear does not have a good keeping quality, it should be eaten as soon as possible.

With an abundance of harvest, pears are placed in a cool place - on a glazed balcony, loggia, in a cellar or basement with low air humidity and temperatures in the range of 1-5 ° C.

You can also store fruits in the refrigerator on the lowest shelf with other fruits. Before laying, each fruit is wrapped in paper to prevent the process of decay and spoilage.

During storage, you should regularly examine the fruits - damaged specimens are disposed of, since they lead to damage to the fruits lying nearby.

The pear tree is one of the most popular plants in summer cottages. All because of the delicious and juicy fruits. In addition to the fact that pears stand out for their unique taste against the background of other fruit crops, they are, moreover, very useful.

The fruit of the tree is considered dietary, so it is often included in the list of foods that are useful for diets. Scientists have noticed a pattern: if the aroma of the fruit is strong, then it means that the vitamin contains much more. Interestingly, in ancient times in China, the pear was considered a symbol of durability. However, let's talk about all this in order.

Vitamins

Surely, you have a lot of questions, the answers to which you would like to receive in this article. For example, why is a pear healthy, what vitamins are in the pear, and so on.

We answer! Pear contains vitamins in abundance. The pear contains: fiber, pectin, fructose, various fruit acids, easily digestible sucrose, all kinds of vitamins and minerals.

The pear is truly rich in useful trace elements! Note the fact that fresh fruit contains few calories. But when purchasing a dried product, you run the risk of adding a couple of kilograms, because all dried fruits, without exception, are very high in calories. However, we digress a little from the main topic of conversation, namely: what is the benefit of the fruit for a person.

Rutin

We present to you rutin (or vitamin P), which is directly related to capillary permeability. If the routine in the human body is not enough, then the so-called stars may pop out on the skin or varicose veins may appear. That is why pear is useful for people suffering from varicose veins.

Potassium

You've probably noticed that after eating these fruits, you want to go to the toilet. The fact is that the fruit contains a large amount of potassium. And this trace element is known for its diuretic properties.

Thus, the pear normalizes the water balance in the human body, and also has a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system and skeletal musculature.

A nicotinic acid

Carotene, vitamins E and C

Some carotene is also found in the fruit. This microelement helps to strengthen vision, regulation of mucous membrane moisture.

There is also vitamin E in the fruit, which is known for its rejuvenating qualities. In addition, this vitamin strengthens nails and hair. Do not forget about vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system. It is also part of the fruit.

Iron, zinc

Note that pears contain a lot of iron. However, its amount is still less than in apples. The content of this substance is easy to determine. Cutting the fruit will darken the cut.

This is due to the fact that the fruit contains iron, zinc and rutin. These substances provide for the transformation and assimilation of vitamins by the body, oxygen exchange and much more. It is also known that iron is one of the components of hemoglobin.

Zinc, in turn, produces male hormones and sperm. Lack of zinc in the male body leads to problems with the prostate. For women, this substance is as needed as for men. After all, zinc synthesizes many anabolic hormones, such as the growth hormone or insulin.

How to eat a pear correctly

A pear should be eaten separately from the main course, namely two hours before a meal or the same time after it. It is best to eat a couple of fruits with an afternoon snack or brunch.

In particular, the fruits are useful for those who have a sedentary job, which involves eating all kinds of cookies, sweets, chocolates without any physical activity. How many temptations.

The main secret is replacement. Eat delicious fruit instead of a bun. It is much healthier than all confectionery and just as delicious!

We learned what vitamins are in the pear, then we will talk about the chemical composition of the fruit.

The chemical composition of the fetus

The pear contains such substances as: sugars (6 to 13 percent), acids (about 0.2 percent), tannins, and of course ash (0.3 percent).

Some varieties also contain: tannin, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, catechin, rutin, epicatechin, carotenoids, leukoanthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroquinone, arbutin, neoxanthin.

Most of the flavonoids and vitamin C are found in newly formed fruits.

Basically, all plant varieties are rich in trace elements. It is impossible not to note the high content of iodine in fruits. Finally, fruits are rich in volatile substances such as ethers and carbonyl compounds.

Naturally, a pear has a much richer chemical composition than the one we have given above. However, we see no reason to list all the trace elements, the name of which will tell you nothing. Therefore, we limited ourselves to the main ones. Those, the benefits of which you probably know.

It would be foolish to talk about the vitamins and trace elements contained in the fruits, but not at all to mention the beneficial components of pear juice and the leaves of the tree itself.

So, in the juice from pear fruits there are many sorbitols and tannins. And in the leaves you can find about 5% arbutin, hydroquinone and flavonoids, which, by the way, are ten times more than in the fruits themselves. Pear stems and roots contain anthocyanins.

Calorie content of the fruit

The nutritional value of a pear is up to about 50 kilocalories. The ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is 3%: 6%: 88%, respectively. The energy value of a pear is as follows: 0.4 grams (or 2 kilocalories) is the share of proteins, fats in one fruit, 0.3 grams (or 3 kilocalories), but 10.3 grams of carbohydrates (or 45 kilocalories). By the way, 100 grams of pears contain 83.71 grams of water.

Benefits of pectin

I would like to pay special attention to such a substance as pectin. It is the most popular form of soluble fiber found in foods. Did you know that it is thanks to this substance that the fruits are so hard?

However, we deviated from the topic ... The fact is that it brings double benefits to the human body.

First, this substance reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Pectin is useful as a prophylactic against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, etc.

Secondly, the risk of cancer is reduced. How much fiber per day do doctors recommend? The optimal fiber intake per day is 20 to 35 grams.

We hope our article helped you find out what vitamins are contained in the pear, and how to eat it with benefit.

This fruit has a sweet and rich taste, moreover, its price in stores is often quite acceptable, so it is not surprising that it can often be found on our tables. But, before eating these fruits, let's figure out what vitamins are in the pear and whether the fruit will benefit everyone.

What vitamins are in pear?

This fruit contains B vitamins, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the human nervous system. In one fruit you will find trace elements B1, B2, B5, B6 and B9, these substances are needed for the development of nerve fibers and their work. In addition, these vitamins in the pear are in a fairly large amount, for example, the microelement B1 contains 0.02 mg, and B5 0.05 mg.

The fruits also contain vitamins E, C and A, they are necessary to maintain the body's immune system, increase skin turgor and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

But, the benefits of a pear lie not only in vitamins, but also in the minerals that are present in its composition. Potassium, calcium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur and magnesium can be found in the fruit, and, moreover, there are quite a lot of these minerals in the fruit. The listed substances help to increase hemoglobin, improve metabolism, reduce edema, and help to normalize bowel function, increasing its peristalsis.

What vitamin is the most in the pear?

This fruit contains most of all vitamin C, in one medium-sized fruit you will find 4 mg of this substance. Of course, compared to citrus fruits, the amount of ascorbic acid in a pear can hardly be called significant, but for those people who cannot eat oranges or lemons due to allergies, these fruits are simply salvation. Eating only 2-3 pears a day, you can not be afraid of vitamin C deficiency, which means you can forget about colds and acute respiratory infections.

The second place in this list is taken by vitamin E, it contains 0.4 mg in a pear. Vitamin E is not for nothing called a substance of beauty, it will help keep the skin smooth and prevent its premature aging.

The table shows that the concentration of all minerals and some vitamins increases (often 4-5 times) in dried pears. However, at the same time, the calorie content of the fruit also grows by the same 4-5 times due to a noticeable increase in the amount of sugar, therefore people who are building their own diet should take into account that fresh and dried pears in the diet cannot be considered interchangeable products.

Healing properties

The medicinal properties of pear pulp are not due to the vitamin composition (there are relatively few vitamins in this fruit), but, first of all, to the presence of:

• dietary fiber (pectin), which improve the functioning of the intestines, are responsible for the elimination of harmful substances and toxins that lower cholesterol levels;
• potassium, a mineral useful for the heart, thanks to which the pear demonstrates a slight diuretic effect;
• folic acid (up to 0.2 mg / 100 g, which is more than in apples and plums) and cobalt - hematopoietic elements involved in the formation of new cells;
• arbutin (up to 60 mg / 100 g in some varieties), capable of preventing the development of kidney and bladder pathologies.

One fruit of a moderately ripe pear contains up to 15-18% of the daily value of fiber. These coarse, indigestible fibers are necessary for the vital activity of beneficial bacteria in the stomach, the activity of which largely determines the state of the body as a whole. Also, coarse fiber in the intestines acts as a cleansing sponge, stimulates the contraction of the intestinal walls, lowers cholesterol levels by binding to its precursors (fatty acids), and can reduce the activity of sugars absorption. However, the more ripe (and, accordingly, softer) the fruit, the less coarse fibers remain in it.

The pear skin contains bioflavonoids, tannins, arbutin, which has antiseptic properties. They provoke the coagulation of the protein of bacterial cells, contribute to the healing of damage to the mucous membrane of the alimentary tract. Since fruits exhibit both antimicrobial and diuretic effects, pear is useful in case of urinary tract infections.

In terms of the quantity and quality of sugars, a pear is generally similar to an apple. However, in terms of sorbitol content (sweet glucite that replaces sugar), pear is noticeably superior to its fruit competitor. In the juice of unripe pear fruits, sorbitol is especially abundant, which is important for patients with diabetes mellitus who use this food product as a sugar substitute. The apple is also ahead of the pear in terms of the content of chlorogenic acid (30-80 mg / 100g), which gives the fruit diuretic and capillary-strengthening properties.

The controversial ability of pears to produce both a laxative and anchorage effect is widely discussed on the Internet. The reason for this is called different ways of processing the fetus - it is believed that fresh pear in large quantities provokes diarrhea, and pear broth, on the contrary, normalizes emptying. Representatives of the clinic of the research center for nutrition and biotechnology explain this paradox by the different composition (and, accordingly, the action) of the fruit pulp and its rind.

The pulp of a pear really has a laxative effect, so it can be eaten with constipation. But the peel of the fruit, containing tannins, on the contrary, demonstrates a fastening function and is able to stop diarrhea and diarrhea. But since tannins are more pronounced in decoctions, then such a "medicine" from the peel of a pear will act more effectively than raw fruit. At the same time, the pulp from a decoction or compote with diarrhea should still not be eaten - it can provoke the opposite effect.

In medicine

In pharmacology, components obtained from various parts of the fruit and plant are used. So, the skin of this fruit is rich in biologically active substances that have antiseptic properties, contains tannins, bioflavonoids. Arbutin (a glycoside found in the skin of a pear and in even greater quantities in the leaves of the tree) is a part of medicines used to treat the urinary tract and kidneys.

Numerous nutritional supplements are produced on the basis of pear components. And the Ukrainian manufacturer uses a concentrate of tree shoots as a base element for its Forest Pear balsam Pyrus pyraster - a wild-growing pear, popularly called "Soletrus". The balm is declared as a powerful antitumor, wound healing, antirheumatic, antifungal and bactericidal agent. One bottle (20 ml) is enough for a course of treatment with the recommended intake 3-4 times a day, 1-2 drops of balm per glass of water.

In folk medicine

Even the ancient Greeks, creating the traditions of European folk medicine, actively used pear fruits for the prevention and treatment of various diseases and conditions. They even saved themselves from seasickness by continuously absorbing the pieces of these fruits, due to which the characteristic signs of motion sickness - nausea and dizziness - disappeared. The pear was also used as a medicine for mushroom poisoning. And pear seeds were used as an antihelminthic agent.

Modern adherents of naturopathy actively use both the fruits themselves and pear juice:

• treatment of urolithiasis and removal of inflammatory processes in the bladder;
• therapy for inflammatory lesions of the prostate gland;
• restoration of pancreatic function;
• normalization of the action of the heart muscle;
• activation of hematopoiesis processes;
• stimulating the kidneys and liver.

Some of these diseases and conditions are manifested by symptoms, which may become the basis for the appointment of traditional pear therapy. So, for example, rapid fatigue, muscle pain, heart palpitations, sensitivity to cold, dizziness and loss of appetite can be signs of blood formation pathology, problems with blood vessels and capillaries or heart disorders, which becomes indications for treatment with the use of decoctions and infusions of pears in as a therapeutic agent.

Pear, as one of the main medicinal ingredients, is also used by traditional healers to diagnose urological inflammation and intestinal disorders. In addition to the fact that dietary fiber activates intestinal peristalsis, tannins deprive pathogenic bacteria of mobility. In general, it must be remembered that large quantities of pulp will contribute to the weakening of the digestive system, and the skin and a decoction from the leaves, on the contrary, will strengthen it.

For decoctions, the “wild” pear is more often used, the fruits of which are rarely eaten, but often, together with the plant part of the tree, are used in various folk healing practices.

• Shoots from osteochondrosis. 1-2 young pear branches should be cut into pieces (5-10 cm long) and boiled in a liter of water (if necessary, the amount of raw materials is proportionally increased). After boiling, the shoots are kept for another 20-30 minutes over low heat, after which the broth should cool and infuse for two hours. Then the raw material is extracted, the liquid is filtered and taken daily for a month. Before the repeated course, take a two-week break.
• Dried pears for prostatitis. Dried pears in the recipe are taken at the rate of 100 g per half liter of water. Dried fruits are first poured with water (about 30 C), infused for about half a day and only then sent to the fire until boiling. After cooling, the broth is taken half a glass three times a day until symptoms are relieved.
• Dried pear peel from gastrointestinal upset. Half a glass of chopped dry peel is mixed with 3 tablespoons of oatmeal and poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water. The mixture is cooked for 15-20 minutes, and then cools down and infused for about an hour. The filtered liquid is taken half a glass before meals until the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is restored.

In a similar way, using dried pears with pulp and oatmeal, decoctions are prepared, which traditional healers recommend taking in case of allergies. Only in this case, porridge is usually boiled in a larger volume (100 g / 1.5 l) and mixed with pear broth (100 g / 1 l) after cooling. Drink one glass twice a day.

In folk medicine, infusions from the pulp of fresh and dried pears, leaves and flowers of the plant are used by healers to treat a wide range of diseases from prostatitis to adenoma.

• Infusion of dried fruits for adenoma. For the treatment of benign tumors of the glands, modern healers recommend pouring 250 grams of dried fruit with a liter of boiling water and leaving it in a thermos for 8-9 hours. After keeping in hot water, the fruits are ground and filtered. The product should be taken 4 times a day for a quarter of a glass.
• Infusion of leaves for rheumatism. 2 tablespoons of dry leaves are poured into a glass of hot water and kept for 2 hours. "Medicine" is taken three times a day, 2 tablespoons.
• Infusion of leaves for dermatitis and rashes. The remedy for external use is recommended as an anti-inflammatory in the treatment of oily skin of the face with seborrhea, as well as with dermatitis. The astringent properties of the infusion help to shorten the treatment time for adolescent acne. For the preparation of the infusion, dried leaves are usually used, collected during the flowering period of the plant. They are poured with boiling water at the rate of 25-30 g per 100 ml and allowed to brew for 5-8 hours.
• Infusion of leaves for prostatitis. For insisting, you will need about 1/3 cup of dry leaves, which are poured over with boiled water for 5 hours. After straining, the infusion is recommended to be taken daily until cured.
• Infusion of flowers for prostatitis. Flowers are taken at the rate of 30 g per 250 ml glass of boiling water. Flowers filled with hot water are infused for 10 minutes. Then the infusion is divided into 3 servings and consumed throughout the day.

In oriental medicine

Pear fruits came to the attention of ancient Chinese healers at least 2 thousand years ago. However, in those days, all medical treatises spoke, first of all, about the possible harm of pears. In particular, a collection of the III century entitled "Herbalism Wu Pu" warns that pears should not be eaten by pregnant women, women after childbirth, the sick, as well as all people with stab and cut wounds. Even healthy people, according to the author, risked getting sick with excessive consumption of pears. The 12th century book "Expanded Meaning of Herbal Science" clarified that if these fruits are consumed in excess, damage to the spleen will occur. And only drunkards can love pears, since these fruits quench their thirst.

This attitude is largely provoked by the pear's place on the famous Yin-Yang scale. The closer a food product is to the value of equality of two principles - to zero on a scale from -3 (Yin) to +3 (Yang) - the more useful it is. However, the pear has a value of -3, concentrating the maximum Yin (feminine principle) in itself, so this fruit is contraindicated for people with a good balance.

In later medical works of Chinese physicians, the attitude towards the pear begins to be gradually revised. Progressive specialists for their time, one after another, begin to admit the possibility of using pears in certain conditions in the treatment of specific diseases. In the book of 1409, "Recipes for all kinds of help" there is such a recipe for "Drink for the treatment of diabetes": from the fruits of one of three varieties (e-li, yang-shui-li or jiang-nan-xue-li) juice is squeezed out, boiled with honey, bottled and occasionally taken after dissolving in cold or hot water. After recovery, the drug should be stopped.

A detailed description of the use of pears was left in his 1590 herbalist by the famous healer Li Shizhen. He collected several cases of almost magical cure for diabetes described in various sources, after which he reasonably doubted that the effect of pears is as harmful as it was stated in ancient medical treatises. In particular, the stories cited tell about people who were considered hopelessly sick, but were healed by a horse veterinarian, a monk, or a doctor. In these stories, patients were advised to eat fresh pears whenever possible, but if it does not work, then at least drink pear juice or soak dried fruits in boiling water.

The cumulative experience of using pears in traditional Chinese medicine can be presented in the following guidelines:

• Pears can and should be eaten with a syndrome that is called "fever syndrome" in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. The manifestations of diabetes can also be attributed to this syndrome, and besides them, such signs as a desire for coolness, dry mouth (which you want to calm down with cold water), redness of the face and tongue (up to raspberry color).
• Pears are acceptable (but in moderation) to get rid of a hangover and thirst in the summer heat.
• These fruits are contraindicated in the "cold syndrome", which is manifested by chills, freezing of hands and feet, pale tongue, desire to warm up with hot drinks.
• It is undesirable to include pear fruits in the diet after childbirth and with significant blood loss, accompanied by pallor, dry skin, dizziness, tinnitus.

Cough syrup made from pears is still very popular in China. But its application also depends on the nature of the cough and the underlying syndrome. So, in case of "fever syndrome", which is characterized by a cough with a viscous and difficult to separate dark yellow sputum, syrup is indicated. And with the "cold syndrome" with a cough, accompanied by abundant discharge of rare pale sputum, such a syrup is prohibited to drink.

Ancient Arab healers also used a boiled or baked pear for lung diseases to relieve the cough reflex. For this, they also used pear tree resin, washed down with several grams of gum with water.

In scientific research

In recent years, in scientific research on pears, scientists were mainly interested in the effect of the fruit on the cardiovascular system, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, as well as the ability of the fruit to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers.

• A large statistical study conducted by members of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) for 8 years with the study of dietary habits of almost half a million people, revealed some dependences of the diet and the occurrence of lung cancer. So it was found that in the group of nonsmokers, the consumption of fruits (and especially pears and apples) reduced the risks of this disease, while for vegetables such a dependence was not found. (In the smokers group, however, the incidence of lung cancer was lower in people who actively added vegetables to their diet.)
• More recently, in 2019, American scientists studied the effect of daily consumption of fresh pears on the heart condition of middle-aged and older people. In a placebo-controlled clinical study conducted over 3 months, there was a tendency for a slight decrease in blood pressure at the time of contraction of the heart muscle, and a significant decrease in pulse pressure (this is the difference between the pressure at the time of contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle). In addition, a qualitative decrease in waist volume was recorded in the group of subjects who received two fresh medium-sized pears daily for meals.
• The ability of biologically active ingredients derived from pears to exhibit antidiabetic properties was tested in laboratory mice. During the experiment, the ability of pear extracts to stabilize the development of type 2 diabetes was established. Moreover, when comparing the concentration of active components in the pulp and peel of a pear, a significant predominance of these components in the peel was recorded (2-18 times, depending on the variety).
• An in vitro laboratory study conducted by Chinese scientists revealed which varieties popular in this country exhibit the greatest antioxidant activity, and which show the most striking anti-inflammatory effect. Experts have established a direct correlation between the high concentration of triterpenoids in the Dangshansu variety and the fruit's anti-inflammatory properties. There was also a very high content of phenols, flavonoids and various anthocyanins in the Xuehua and Nanguo varieties, which determined their special antioxidant capabilities.

Scientists in general are quite often interested in the antioxidant capabilities of pears and products based on them (for example, chips), which indirectly indicates the high potential of this fruit in the fight against free radicals that provoke dangerous lipid oxidation, damage to membranes (at the cellular level) and vascular walls ...

Slimming

The pear seems too sweet to be considered an effective weight loss aid with so many sugars. Meanwhile, fresh pear fruits contain only 40-60 kcal (depending on the variety), and there is no more sugar than apples, which simply seem less sweet due to the acids they contain.

There is a popular 7-day diet that uses pears as one of its main ingredients. It is believed that with its help, without harm to health, you can "lose" up to 5 kg.

• Breakfast: 250 ml of yogurt with rye bread, 2 pears.
• Lunch: boiled chicken breast (100 g), 3 tablespoons of boiled rice.
• Dinner: 2 pears.
• A cup of green tea without sugar before bed.

• Breakfast: 2-3 rice cakes, 1 pear.
• Lunch: 50 grams of hard cheese with rye bread.
• Dinner: 2 pears.
• Before going to bed 150 g of cottage cheese.

• Breakfast: 150 grams of boiled beef with 50 grams of buckwheat porridge.
• Lunch: salad of 2 pears and grated carrots.
• Dinner: 2 pears.
• Before bed, a salad of 2 eggs with vegetables, seasoned with olive oil.

Brazilian researchers in an experiment tried to assess how a low-energy diet with added pears helps women in their 30s to 50s lose weight. In a field study, three groups were fed equal-calorie servings of pear, apple, and oat cookies for 2.5 months. Despite the equality of calories, fruit supplements helped to lose weight more effectively.

In cooking

On the dining table, a pear goes well with a mass of products that at first glance seem incompatible with a sweet juicy fruit: with cheeses, pork, beef, chicken, nuts and seasonings (spices), which are primarily associated with meat dishes.

• Pear and cheese. An old French proverb says: "The Lord has never entered into a more perfect marriage than the union of pear and cheese." Combinations of dense, meaty Bosc and ripe cheddar, as well as Comice with brie cheese are considered especially harmonious. Blue cheeses can overshadow a delicate pear, but sweet furme d'amber with milky hues and a fading musty aroma suits the pear very well. The description of the Spanish Grazalema cheese mentions "notes of ripe pears", which in itself testifies to the compatibility of this goat cheese with a pear. An excellent partner for pears is Livaro, a pickled Norman cream cheese with its "aroma", in which strong spicy notes are caught.
• Pear and pork. The culinary experts call the ideal pair pear and prosciutto - Italian salted ham. They can be combined without additional ingredients, but they are often combined in salads, pizzas, panini (hot sandwiches). Unlike an apple, a pear goes better not with fatty meat, but with well-fried small pieces.
• Pear and beef. Pear fruits are combined with beef in at least two popular Asian dishes. Yukhe is made from finely chopped raw beef fillet that is marinated in hot soy sauce and then served with nashi (Asian pear) slices. In pulkogi, before frying, the beef cut into thin strips is already marinated in grated pear, rice wine, sesame oil and lemon juice with spices.

The so-called "pear honey" has become a brand product for some cantons of Switzerland, which is the juice of Tylers pear, strongly thickened to a viscous (honey) state. This variety was included in the classic recipe, because it was very common in the canton of Lucerne and was perfect for cooking. But for making honey at home, you can replace this pear with a variety similar in characteristics. The main thing is to make the concentrate sweet and juicy, to use the still hard, not overripe fruits, which, nevertheless, have already begun to darken and fall off.

After squeezing, the pear juice is filtered through a large sieve to separate large pieces of pulp, poured into a copper basin and sent to the basement overnight. During this time, coarse fibers ("noise") have time to rise to the surface, which must be collected, and the juice purified from "noise" is put in a basin on the fire for 6 hours, collecting the foam before boiling. In the middle of the last century, during the war, coffee with milk was replaced with such dark brown honey with milk.

But for lovers of such sweets and lollipops with pear flavor and aroma, there is one caveat: the fruit ester isoamyl acetate, present in sweets, is called the "bee attack pheromone", because it is with its help that insects transmit information about the threat and the need to defend themselves. Therefore, bees, having caught the smell of pear candies, can behave aggressively.

In cosmetology

Pear fruit extract often appears as an ingredient in cosmetics in anti-aging creams and serums and products for the care of problem skin. There it helps to reduce pore size, normalizes the secretion of the sebaceous glands, improves metabolic processes, enriches the skin with organic acids.

The ability of the ingredients contained in the pear to fight inflammatory processes is also used in home cosmetology.

• Healing elixir. The product is made from pear peel (50 g per liter of water). The skin is cut from fresh fruits and boiled over the fire for about 30 minutes, after which it is still infused for about 2 hours. The mixture is filtered before applying to sores and wounds.
• Rejuvenating mask. The pear is peeled, and the pulp is crushed to a mushy state. Add one teaspoon of orange juice, honey and cream to this mass. After mixing, the composition is applied to the face for a quarter of an hour. The mask is washed off with warm tea leaves (usually green tea). To restore tone and open pores, you can additionally rub the skin with an ice cube.
• Purifying mask. The pulp of one ripe pear is mixed with oat flour. The amount of flour depends on the juiciness of the fruit. The main goal after stirring is to get a thick gruel. After 15 minutes of holding on the face, the mask is washed off with cool water.

Dangerous properties of pears and contraindications

The pear has several properties that, to one degree or another, make these fruits undesirable for inclusion in the diet. So, for example, it is prohibited to eat pear fruits in acute and chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). This is due to the presence in the pulp of even the ripe fruits of sclereids - stony cells - dead tissues with lignified thick membranes. Their walls are sometimes impregnated with lime, an indigestible type of wax (cutin) or silicon dioxide (silica).

Because of the stony cells, excess pears are considered "heavy" food even for people with healthy gastrointestinal tract. People suffering from exacerbations, all the more should refrain from diversifying their diet at the expense of these fruits. Moreover, the prohibition applies to baked fruits, and to grated pear pulp - stony cells are still preserved there.

The aggravating effect of the pear (if there are already health problems) can potentially be aggravated by its "neighborhood" in a plate with meat products. In addition, it is not recommended to drink the pulp of a raw pear with water, so as not to provoke diarrhea, not to eat it on an empty stomach and / or immediately after a meal.

The abundance of fiber in foods, as a rule, has a beneficial effect on the state of the body. However, the abuse of foods containing a lot of indigestible fiber can provoke intense gas formation, accompanied by painful cramps.

The abundance of sugars in pear pulp is also attributed to the potentially dangerous properties of this fruit. However, it is not entirely correct to compare fruit sugars with sugars in sweets or cakes, since in a pear they are associated with dietary fiber and are less actively absorbed.

We have collected the most important points about the benefits and possible dangers of pears in this illustration and we will be very grateful if you share the picture on social networks with a link to our page:

For a long time, the pear has competed in popularity with the apple, but despite the fact that a lot of people prefer the pear tart sweetness to the apple sweet and sour taste, this fruit has always remained "in the shadow" of a more common competitor. The ancient Greek poet Homer suggested that this is due to "the property of a pear to fall in love with only people with intelligence." In Homer's time, the most beautiful and largest fruits were brought as a gift to the inhabitants of Olympus - the wife of the supreme god Hera and the goddess of beauty Aphrodite.

Pear fruits can grow to gigantic sizes. Moreover, selection successes and special specific growing conditions make it possible to regularly conquer previous records. So, for example, if in 1979 a fruit from South Wales weighing 1.4 kg was considered the world record holder, then in 2013 a gardener from Ingushetia Abas Matiev, without growth stimulants, using only organic fertilizers, grew a fruit already weighing 1.7 kg.

But the real record holder of the beginning of the XXI century was a pear grown in Japan (Okayama Prefecture) and exhibited in 2011 at the head office of JA Aichi Toyota. She weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces (2.948 kg). Moreover, thanks to Japan's reputation as an exotic country where everything is possible, these achievements are not perceived as fiction. After all, the famous Japanese pear "nihonnashi" (or simply "nashi") with hundreds of varietal varieties at the first meeting is really surprising. True, not in size (the largest fruits do not exceed 400-450 g), but in their spherical-flattened shape. But even more surprising is the attitude of the Japanese towards the pear tree and its fruits.

There is a unique pear museum ("Nasikko-kan") in the city of Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture. The building itself is made in the form of a spherical fruit of the prefecture's brand variety - "XX century", and inside there is a "mausoleum" of one famous tree, which bore fruit for 60 years, brought up to 2000 fruits per season and became a legend among local gardeners. In gratitude for such a productive life, the tree after death was placed under the dome, completely preserving both the spreading crown (20 meters in diameter) and the root system, exposed under glass for viewing.

In addition to the central hall with a tree, the museum displays:

• theatrical robotic story about the formation of the pear cultivation tradition;
• a fruit museum showing separately the evolution of Western and Eastern selection;
• a tasting room with a cafe offering a variety of pear desserts;
• a pear garden, in which absolutely every fruit is packed in rice paper bags that protect not only from birds and insects, but also from the sun, because, according to the Japanese, the fruits should remain green, and not brown under the scorching rays.

An individual approach to each fruit is widely practiced today, also because it is commercially viable. So, in China, for example, they began to grow pears in the form of a Buddha figurine. Young fruits, packed in a transparent plastic form, acquire recognizable shape and face as they grow. The cost of one such pear reaches $ 10, and to justify the price, sellers claim that a person who eats a Buddhist pear will gain immortality.

The Chinese generally consider the pear to be a symbol of immortality. Breaking a pear (or even just seeing a broken tree) is considered a bad omen. It is also undesirable to share the fruit with loved ones, because this can cause separation.

The Chinese pear orchard (Gansu province), which has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest orchard on the planet, also seems immortal. More than 2/3 of the garden's trees were planted in the 17th century, and the oldest trees are 430 years old. However, most of them continue to bear fruit.

But real immortality does not have to be sought in distant lands. In one of the private estates of Krivoy Rog grows a pear tree 300 years old. It is believed that even before the official date of the city's founding, it was planted by the first settlers in these Ukrainian territories. The exact age of the plant will allow dendrologists to establish an examination, but it is indirectly confirmed by the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, Don Cossacks visited this estate specifically to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the tree.

Now the girth of its trunk is 3.65 meters, but the plant regularly bears fruit to this day, although in the 20s of the last century it survived a direct lightning strike that broke off a part of the trunk (this part was later sent to the shed for firewood). However, the incident only strengthened the confidence in the extraordinary vitality of the plant. When the remaining part of the tree bloomed next spring, the branches in the shed also bloomed at the same time.

The wood of the pear is generally wasteful to send for firewood, since in dried form it can become a rather valuable decorative material, replacing beech or even ebony wood. Due to the presence of "stone cells" in the structure, it can be cut in different directions without fear of splits. Pears are used to make small interior crafts, musical instruments, furniture, architectural rulers, printed boards for cookies and gingerbread, plates and bowls that can be washed in a dishwasher. After treatment with hot steam, pear wood darkens, acquiring a noble reddish tint. And having aged naturally, it becomes a beautiful dark amber color.

Pear leaves are also surprising. It is widely believed that they grow on a branch in an order that maximizes the supply of light and moisture. They even call the angle of one sheet in relation to another (135 degrees). It should be understood that the same type of pear leaf does not exist. Depending on the variety, they can be ovoid, oblong, round, ellipsoidal with solid, serrated, serrated, and other edges. The relief (straight, twisted, wavy, etc.) will also be very different. Equally noteworthy, in Europe, pear leaves may have been smoked even before the appearance of tobacco, although no artifacts directly confirming this have survived.

Selection and storage

When buying pears in a store or in the market, you should focus on the appearance, smell and density of the fruit. There should be no external damage, dents or wormholes on the skin (worms are occasionally found in domestic pears, although less often than in apples). To appreciate the quality and ripeness, you need to lightly press on the fruit and smell. Too hard pulp without aroma suggests that this is an unripe fruit. And excessive looseness may indicate the beginning of the decay process. However, in the case of the pear, it is better to purchase unripe fruit than overripe fruit.

Hard fruits ripen relatively easily, even if you just keep them for several days at room temperature (you do not need to wash them first). However, this process can also be accelerated by packing pears together with apples and / or bananas in one paper bag. "Neighbors", releasing ethylene (gas, which is also called "natural maturation hormone"), will share it with pears.

Soft ripe fruits at room temperature can, on the contrary, begin to rot. In order to slow down this process, fruits are placed in the refrigerator, extending their shelf life by 4-5 days. One more day can be won by pouring lemon juice on a pear that has begun to darken. But in general, pears are stored relatively poorly, and even low temperatures do not save these fruits from loss of quality.

Long considered the undisputed world leader in the production and export of pears, China has sponsored numerous studies on this product aimed, among other things, at better value conservation. Thus, a recent study carried out on frozen pears of one actively exported variety showed a qualitative loss of fruit aroma during prolonged freezing (hexylhexanoate disappeared completely, and the content of 5 more aromatic elements significantly decreased). The same study found an increase in saturated and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids after prolonged freezing.

Recently, the efforts of Chinese scientists have led to the discovery of another, more gentle and already chemical, way to extend the life of fruits removed from the tree. If the fruits are treated with 0.1 mM melatonin, then storage at a temperature of +4 ° C simultaneously slows down the growth of microorganisms, and increases the general antioxidant capacity of pears and inhibits the loss of ascorbic acid.

If it becomes necessary to keep pears at home for as long as possible (within several months), then you can resort to the following proven methods of experienced gardeners:

• Choose only autumn and winter varieties for bookmarking.
• To remove pears from a tree at the stage of technical maturity - still greenish, without waiting for them to fall off themselves. When harvested by hand, it is possible to protect the fruits from mechanical shock and to keep the stalk intact.
• Store in well-ventilated dry rooms at a temperature of about 0-2 ° C. If the humidity is very high (above 80-85%), a bucket of quicklime left in the storage (basement, cellar) will allow you to get rid of it, as well as excess odors.
• Separate pears from other vegetables and fruits. But the pear fruits themselves should not be in close contact with each other. Therefore, they are placed in boxes or boxes with holes for ventilation and each layer is sprinkled with sawdust or sand.
• From time to time, sort through the folded fruits to reject spoiled pears.

Before putting fruits in boxes, they are often laid out directly on the floor for 0.5-1 weeks, covering the harvest with newspapers. And only then each fruit is wiped dry and sent to a box. Sometimes pears are stored on wooden shelves, the bottom layer of which is raised from the floor by 15 cm or more. At the same time, they are laid out with the stalks up.

Varieties and cultivation

Pear loves light and warmth. In shaded areas, the tree both grows and bears fruit poorly, therefore it is more often planted in the southern, western or southwestern parts of the garden. Until recently, the thermophilicity of the pear presented certain problems for its cultivation in the northern regions, but the work of breeders who created hybrids resistant to low temperatures allowed this plant to be grown in Western Siberia, in the Urals, as well as in the cold northeastern part of China.

Unlike more unpretentious, cold-tolerant plants, southern pears have a developed root system that can penetrate into deep soil layers, which determines both the large size of the planting holes and the quality of the non-swampy soil.

To date, breeders have bred about 3000 varieties of pears. Some of them appeared as a side effect of other research activities. So, for example, the French gardener Luis Bosca, bred a variety named after him, by chance, just fighting weeds. There are 69 botanical species of this plant alone, although most cultivars represent only one of them - Pyrus communis. It also includes the following varieties, which made up the top 5 of our "pear" rating:

• Bartlett. Pear was bred by the devout and generous English farmer Williams Bon Chretien, who spent the proceeds from the sale of seeds on charity and church building. But overseas, this variety is better known by the name of the merchant Bartlett. This variety is considered the sweetest and most juicy in the world. Since the 19th century, there was a rule of table etiquette, according to which this pear was served only in sliced \u200b\u200bform, because it was almost impossible to bite off the whole fruit without staining yourself with juice. In restaurants, a large number of napkins were always served with the Bartlett pear.
  Over time, this particular variety became the most popular in North America. Its fruit color can range from pale yellow to reddish, depending on growing conditions. But since most Americans consider only yellow and green fruits to be real pears, red varieties of fruits are more common in restaurants, where you can charge a higher price for the "exotic" color.
• "Starkrimson". It is also a very juicy, sweet and aromatic pear. There are fruits from bright red to dark crimson shades. The variety appeared back in the 50s of the last century, but has not yet received wide distribution, taking the place of an expensive delicacy on the market. It is usually ordered in limited quantities in order to sell for $ 10-15 for one such organic fruit.
• Williams. One of the most famous and popular varieties, the first mention of which dates back to 1770. Then his name was a little different - "Williams Christ". But this pear was made famous by another person with the same surname - Richard Williams, who in 1816 introduced it to the London Gardening Organization. A few years later, the variety began to spread throughout Europe and the world, and not without reason: its sweet pulp melts in the mouth, and the taste is distinguished by a shade that is called “Williams-note”.
• "Duchess". This word is translated from French as "duchess". In the world, "Duchess" has been known among gardeners since 1845, and in the post-Soviet space, the name of this variety was on the label of a popular pear-flavored soda and was known to every child. For the sweet juicy pulp, "Duchess" is still in the top of the most popular combs in the world today.
• "Forelle". Rounding out the rating, "in contrast", is a very tough pear with firm pulp and low sugar content. It is used most often in low-calorie confectionery. And the laws of some states still prohibit the use of the fruits of this variety as projectiles for throwing. Local farmers call it a "combat grenade". "Forelle" has excellent ballistic characteristics: it flies far, and because of its hardness, it can cause serious damage when hit.
• US national nutrient database,
• Jakob Linseisen, Sabine Rohrmann, Anthony B. Miller, H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Frederike L. Büchner, Paolo Vineis, Antonio Agudo. Fruit and vegetable consumption and lung cancer risk: Updated information from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Int J Cancer. 2007 Sep 1.
• Navaei N, Pourafshar S, Akhavan NS, Litwin NS, Foley EM, George KS, Hartley SC, Elam ML, Rao S, Arjmandi BH, Johnson SA. Influence of daily fresh pear consumption on biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in middle-aged / older adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Food & Function. Issue 2, 2019.
• TingtingWang, XiaLi, Bin Zhou, Hongfa Li, Jie Zeng, Wenyuan Gao. Anti-diabetic activity in type 2 diabetic mice and α-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of chemically profiled pear peel and pulp extracts (Pyrus spp.). Journal of Functional Foods. Volume 13, March 2015, Pages 276-288.
• Li X, Zhang JY, Gao WY, Wang Y, Wang HY, Cao JG, Huang LQ. Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of eight pear cultivars. J. Agric. Food Chem. August 12, 2012.
• Maria Conceiçãode Oliveira, Rosely Sichieri, Renzo Venturim Mozzer. A low-energy-dense diet adding fruit reduces weight and energy intake in women. Appetite. Volume 51, Issue 2, September 2008, Pages 291-295.
• Shi F, Zhou X, Yao MM, Zhou Q, Ji SJ, Wang Y. Low-temperature stress-induced aroma loss by regulating fatty acid metabolism pathway in "Nanguo" pear. Food Chemistry. 2019 Nov 1.
• Zheng H, Liu W, Liu S, Liu C, Zheng L. Effects of melatonin treatment on the enzymatic browning and nutritional quality of fresh-cut pear fruit. Food Chemistry. 2019 Nov 30.

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With the arrival of autumn, a juicy and aromatic fruit fruit called a pear begins to appear on our tables. It is tasty and healthy, and is also considered an excellent dietary and multivitamin product.

In ancient China, the pear was associated with durability due to its varied, rich composition and beneficial properties. Consider what vitamins the pear contains, and whether it really is so useful.

What vitamins does the fruit consist of?

Pears usually contain fiber and juice, which is made up of a variety of vitamins, minerals, as well as pectin, phytoncides, organic acids and sugar. In the table below, you can see in more detail the vitamin content of this fruit, which has a beneficial effect on the human body.

List of vitamins	Their number is 100 grams. pears (mg)	Effect on the body
WITH	5,5	Develops resistance of body cells to various types of infections, increasing immunity. Strengthens blood vessels, enriches them with oxygen.
TO	4,5	It normalizes blood clotting, controls the stable functioning of the kidneys, and takes part in the formation of bone tissue.
E	0,4	It inhibits cell aging due to its antioxidant properties, heals various skin lesions faster, stabilizes the functioning of the sex and endocrine glands.
PP (niacin)	0,2	It normalizes the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the condition of the mucous membranes, promotes better blood circulation and lowers high blood pressure.
H (biotin)	0,1	Takes part in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Has a positive effect on the protective forces.
IN 1	0,02	It activates brain activity, as well as the work of systems such as cardiovascular and endocrine.
IN 2	0,03	Restores visual functions, takes part in the formation of hormones and erythrocytes.
AT 5	0,05	Improves intestinal work, leads to early healing of damage, supports immunity.
AT 6	0,03	Reduces the number of muscle spasms, reduces nervous excitement, prevents premature aging of body cells.
B9 (folic acid)	2	It has an effect on digestion, plays an important role in the formation of new cells.

Of course, none of these vitamin substances fully cover the needs of the human body. For example, to get the daily value of vitamins K, C and E, a person should eat 18, 11 and 25 pears.

Because of this, nutritionists strongly advise, along with pears, to use other fruits and foods that also have beneficial properties.

Mineral substances in pears

The minerals found in the fruit also fulfill their positive functions in relation to the body, satisfying its needs. The data are presented in the table.

Minerals	Their content is 100 grams. pears (mg)	How do they affect the human body
Potassium	155	Strengthens the heart muscle, normalizes blood pressure.
Calcium	19	It is a building material for bone and dental growth, ensures the normal functioning of the nervous system, and fights stressful situations.
Magnesium	12	Regulates the functions of the nervous system, takes part in all biological actions.
Sodium	14	Replenishes cells with oxygen and necessary nutrients, participates in the regulation of metabolic processes.
Phosphorus	16	Supports acid and alkaline balance.
Iron	2,3	Is a source of hemoglobin.
Cobalt	6	It stabilizes the work of the pancreas, takes part in metabolic processes.
Silicon	10	Reduces capillary fragility, provides tissue elasticity.

Having eaten a pear that weighs 150 grams. , as a rule, you can enrich the body with such trace elements as silicon and cobalt 100%.

Healing qualities of the fetus

The constant use of this fruit helps to increase immunity and helps to maintain beauty and health for a long time. Although pears taste sweeter than apples, they have less sugar.

Please note that pear contains more fructose than glucose, so they can be consumed in moderation by people suffering from diabetes. This is another plus of this fruit. But still, before taking it, it is important to consult your doctor.

Importantly, the pear is a fruit that does not contain any allergens. As a result, it can be safely given to children. Doctors allow the baby at 8 months to introduce pear puree as complementary foods. Thanks to the pectins that are part of the pear, they regulate the stool of a small child, increase immunity.

A decoction from the seeds of this fruit is very useful for helminth infestation. But compote, which is cooked from dry fruits, very well removes toxic substances from the body and helps in the absorption of food. Therefore, it is useful to drink it in case of intoxication of the body and in the treatment of poisoning.

Also, doctors advise pregnant women to use a pear. This is due to the fact that folic acid, iron and calcium, which are contained in the fruit, help the baby to strengthen and develop in the mother's womb.

Baked pears are considered a source of energy. As a rule, when stressful conditions arise, the constant intake of this fruit leads to the regeneration of nerve cells, as well as an overall relaxing effect.

Who shouldn't eat pears and when?

If it is wrong to eat this fruit, then bad consequences may occur. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to some points, namely:

• Doctors advise against eating a pear on an empty stomach. This is due to the fact that the coarse cell adversely affects the gastric mucosa
• It is forbidden to drink the fruit with milk or raw water, this will lead to stool disorders
• Eating tart, unripe fruits can lead to constipation

Having learned what vitamins are contained in the pear, we can confidently say that it is quite a useful fruit for the human body. Enjoy its taste, combining healthy and pleasant qualities. And also do not forget to stock up on healthy jam and dried pear fruits for the winter.