Benefits Of Pear Fruit And Its Nutritional Value

Posted July 16th, 2018 by Fruidel Team

Top 10 interesting facts about the pear

There are over 3000 varieties of pears grown around the world.
Pears are native to Asia and Europe. The first pear tree was planted in the North America in 1620 in the Massachusetts Bay colony.
The European pear originated in Southeast Asia and was first cultivated in Europe about 1000 B.C. Asian pears were cultivated in China as early as 1134 B.C.
The Chinese considered the pear, which they call “li,” to be a symbol of immortality. The destruction of a pear tree symbolized tragic or untimely death.
In Chinese, fen li means both “to share a pear” and “to separate”. Therefore, it is considered bad luck in China to share a pear because it may lead to separation of friends or lovers.
Before tobacco was introduced in Europe, pear leaves were smoked.
The pear was sacred to two goddesses in Greek mythology – Hera and Aphrodite. It was also sacred to the corresponding Roman goddesses, Juno and Venus, as well as to Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitfulness.
They were given the nickname “butter fruit” in the 1700s because of their soft, buttery texture.
Pears were used as a natural remedy against nausea in ancient Greece.
Pear wood is used to make furniture, musical instruments and wood carvings. It is also used to make wooden kitchen utensils because it doesn’t impart any colour or odour to the food and because it is tough enough to withstand repeated trips through the dishwasher without splintering or warping. Architect’s rulers are made from pear wood because it doesn’t warp.

Benefits Of Pear Fruit And Its Nutritional Value

The humble fruit is packed with tons of health benefits. Some of the most popular pear health benefits include:

Mental Health:

A medium-sized pear provides about 15 percent of our daily recommended copper requirement. Copper is an essential mineral required for a healthy central nervous system. The copper ions affect the component that is responsible for making the neural synapses stronger or weaker. This change affects our ability to learn and remember. The antioxidant, quercetin, found in pears also protects us from Alzheimer’s disease.

Heart health:

Pears are a good source of glutathione, an antioxidant, which controls high blood pressure and reduces the risk of strokes. It contains potassium, a mineral, which maintains the health of the heart. Quercetin also prevents artery damage that can cause heart disease. The high levels of pectin in pears lower cholesterol in the body.

Fiber:

Pear is one of the best fiber-rich foods. A medium-sized pear provides up to 30 grams of fiber, including pectin, which helps in toning the intestines and lowering the cholesterol levels. A high fiber diet prevents a bloated belly caused by constipation, while preventing painful hemorrhoids. Fiber also helps to absorb vitamins and minerals from the food.

Bone Health:

Pears contain boron, a mineral which aids the body to retain calcium. The fruit may, therefore, help in preventing osteoporosis.

Nutritional Value of Pears

Nutritive value per 100 g (USDA)
Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	58 Kcal	3%
Carbohydrates	13.81 g	11%
Protein	0.38 g	<1%
Total Fat	0.12 g	0.5%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	3.10 g	8%

Vitamins
Folates	7 µg	2%
Niacin	0.157 mg	1%
Pantothenic acid	0.048 mg	1%
Pyridoxine	0.028 mg	2%
Riboflavin	0.025 mg	2%
Thiamin	0.012 mg	1%
Vitamin A	23 IU	1%
Vitamin C	4.2 mg	7%
Vitamin E	0.12 mg	1%
Vitamin K	4.5 µg	4%
Electrolytes
Sodium	1 mg	0%
Potassium	119 mg	2.5%
Minerals
Calcium	9 mg	1%
Copper	0.082 mg	9%
Iron	0.17 mg	2%
Magnesium	7 mg	2%
Manganese		2%
Phosphorus	11 mg	2%
Zinc	0.10 mg	1%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	12 µg	—
Crypto-xanthin-ß	2 µg	—
Lutein-zeaxanthin	45 µg	—

Pears are a good source of Vitamin B2, C and E. It contains minerals like copper, iron, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and chlorine in small quantities. It is also a good source of pectin, a water-soluble fiber. Pear also contains all three groups of flavonoids – flavonols, flavan-3 and anthocyanin in huge amounts.