25
Mar
The practice of drying fruits has been around since ancient times dating back to as early as the Mesopotamian period. Dried fruits has the benefit of long shelf life and maintains its original sweet taste and nutrients.
Dried fruit is essentially normal fruit that has the majority of its water contents removed from either naturally sun drying it or by using specialized dehydrators.
By doing this the fruit becomes smaller and more compact, while still maintaining its original taste and nutrients. This makes it the perfect healthy, energy-dense snack that you can enjoy.
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Benefits of Dried Fruits
Most dried fruits actually maintain their nutritional value from when they are fresh fruits. Although to be exact, their nutritional content depends on when they were fresh and the method of which they were dried.
Also due to the high temperatures involved in drying the fruits and overall low moisture content, dried fruit actually make for a reliable and stable food source, hence the popularity since ancient times.
When dried using traditional methods, dried fruits have a low to moderate Glycemic Index. This fruits will also contains the same amount of nutrients as when they were fresh fruits except in a smaller more compact form.
This means that you can fulfill your daily recommended serving of fiber and vitamins by just snacking on it. They also contain lots of fiber and antioxidants such as polyphenols that help improve blood flow and healthier digestive tract.
Photo Source : Daria Shevtsova
Examples of Dried Fruits
Commonly found dried fruits include raisin, dates, figs, apricots, peaches, apples and pears. They are often sold in packages that are mixed with nut, berries and other grains to mix up the content.
Some of them are sold almost exclusively on their own packages such as dates, dried mangos and peaches. These fruits are usually dried in the sun or heated in wind tunnel dryers.
Some fruits are purposely dried before they are sold such as papaya, kiwi fruit and pineapples are turned into candied fruits.
Keep in mind that some manufacturers infuse their fruits with additional sugars and flavoring. Therefore you need to pay close attention with the ingredients before consuming them.
To conclude, as with anything we consume it is imperative that measure and eat with moderation. Due to its smaller size, it is easy to ingest many fruits in one binge, which would defeat the benefits that you’re looking for in the first place.
As the leading food distributor in Bali, Puri Pangan Utama offers a selection of dried fruit offerings such as cranberries, raisins, dates and apricots for our customers.