More than good taste, a pear is an incredibly versatile fruit. You can put in or on just about anything to add a bit of sweetness, crunch, or citrus. It also packs a powerful nutrition punch. Pears are an excellent source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C. They are low in calories, sodium-free, fat-free and cholesterol-free. Eating a variety of fruits—including pears–is part of the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
Here are 5 more reasons why you should eat a pear every day.
1. Weight Management
Studies suggest that adding pears to your diet aids weight loss. In a study women who ate three pears or three apples every day had more weight loss compared to women who ate very little fruit. Likewise, women eating fruit had a greater reduction in calorie intake overall, likely due to greater satisfaction after eating. Eating 3 servings of fruit per day may decrease your overall daily food intake.
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Another study showed that eating 3 pears or apples every day satisfies better than eating cookies that have the same amount of calories and fiber. Women added 3 oat cookies, 3 pears, or 3 apples to their daily diets for 10 weeks. The women eating the pears or apples significantly decreased calorie intake and lost more weight than the women eating cookies.
2. Gut Health
A healthy gut is key to a healthy immune and nervous system. Pears contain prebiotic fiber that helps promote intestinal health by providing food for beneficial probiotic bacteria. As fiber travels through the digestive system it acts like a sponge, absorbing water and removing waste and toxins. Pears are one of the leading fruit sources of fiber. One medium-sized pear packs 6 grams of fiber. That’s about 24 percent of the recommended daily intake of fiber. The majority of the fiber in pears is in the skin, so be sure to enjoy the skin.
