Dried apricot is a nutrient-rich food that generally enhances the body's health. It contains a high amount of fiber, which helps improve digestion and prevent constipation, and also supplies the body with vitamins and minerals such as potassium and iron, contributing to heart and bone health.
A recent medical study has shown that dried apricots have significant benefits for intestinal health. Through the study, scientists sought to understand the effects of this dried fruit on health, particularly the gut. Over a period of 32 weeks, they subjected laboratory mice with colon and small intestine cancer to two dietary regimens: one containing 5% dried apricot and the other 10%.
The results indicated that dried apricots did not protect the mice from the development of colon cancer, regardless of its percentage in the diet. However, in the mice that received the dried fruit in higher amounts, the growth rate of small intestine tumors slowed.
Researchers also found that dried apricots enhanced fermentation processes in the gut and increased bacterial diversity in the mice's intestines, with a significant rise in microorganisms associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids, including butyrate. Scientists noted that these changes are important for overall gut health.
The study's authors affirmed that the findings are based on studies conducted on laboratory animals, and there is a need for clinical trials on humans to verify the benefits of dried apricots for the gut and general health.
