Health Benefits of Pears

The pear, which is in season most of the winter, packs itself with many health benefits. Some of the top health benefits of pears include being high in fiber, high in vitamins and minerals. And most people find pears are absolutely delicious!

Believe it or not, but many of the nutrients found in pears are actually concentrated in the skin. Recent studies have shown that the skin of pears contains at least three to four times as many phenolic phytonutrients as the flesh. These phytonutrients include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory flavonoids, and potentially anti-cancer phytonutrients like cinnamic acids. The skin of the pear has also been shown to contain about half of the pear’s total dietary fiber. Before consuming, make sure the pears have been washed thoroughly. It is important to note that pears are not included in the Environmental Working Group’s 2014 report “2014 Dirty Dozen Plus” as one of the 12 foods most frequently containing pesticide residues. I highly recommend choosing organic or locally grown pears that are grown using organic standards.

Pears come in a variety of colors and shapes. The list below describes some of the more commonly enjoyed varieties of pears:

Bartlett: best known of the pear varieties in the U.S., and most often the variety found in cans. Bartletts, sometimes called Williams pears, are yellow/green and speckled.
Bosc: cinnamon brown-skinned pears with long tapered necks with a honey-like but complex flavor.
Comice: round, short pears with either green and red coloring, or sometimes almost completely red with especially soft and juicy flesh.
Concorde: tall, skinny, and golden/green pears with flesh that is firmer and more dense than many other varieties.
Forelle: red/green and speckled like a trout, and thus the name, meaning “trout” in German. A small-sized pear that yellows as it ripens.
Green Anjou: a widely available, compact, and short-necked pear. It doesn’t change color much while ripening.
Red Anjou: very much like its green counterpart, except a rich reddish maroon in color and higher in anthocyanins (which is the main reason for its rich red color).
Red Bartlett: very much like its yellow/green counterpart, except with an all-round bright red skin, they sometimes feature light vertical striping, and like Red Anjou, they are rich in anthocyanins.
Seckel: smallest of the commonly eaten pears, usually yellow/green or olive green in color, and mixed with broad patches of red.
Starkrimson: bright crimson red color, more narrow-necked that Red Anjou, but equally rich in anthocyanins and especially beautiful in a salad.

Health Benefits of Pears

anti-oxidant
anti-inflammatory
decreases risk of diabetes
decreases risk of heart disease
reduces cancer risk
low in acid
easy to digest
hypoallergenic fruit
ranks #2 in highest flavonols in fruits & veggies
high in phytonutrients
helps to cleanse liver
aids in weight loss
supports healthy digestion
raise hydrochloric acid in the stomach
antispasmodic
skin of pears contains at least 3 to 4 times as many phenolic phytonutrients as the flesh
low on glycemic index
high in fiber
good source of potassium
AHA reports that eating one pear a day can reduce risk of stroke by as much as 52 percent

Other Health Benefits of Pears

Health Issues

If you have any of the following health issues, try adding more pears into your diet: Pancreatitis; pancreatic cancer; liver cancer; diabetes; food poisoning; hiatal hernia; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO); intestinal infection of H. pylori, E. coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, and/or mold; cirrhosis of the liver; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; hepatitis D; fungal infections; stomach cancer; esophageal cancer; diverticulitis; diverticulosis; shingles; herpes; migraines; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); hypoglycemia.

Health Symptoms

If you have any of the following health symptoms, try adding pears into your diet: Acid reflux, high cholesterol, sluggish liver, dysfunctional liver, liver heat, liver stagnation, gas, bloating, constipation, gastritis, gastric distress, food allergies, upset stomach, intestinal inflammation, intestinal scar tissue, adhesions, insulin resistance, intestinal spasms, pancreas inflammation, appendix inflammation, weight gain, inflamed skin, diarrhea.

Pear-Quinoa Salad Recipe

Ingredients (use organic ingredients)

1 14-ounce can organic vegetable broth
1 cup quinoa
2 tablespoons walnut oil
1 Tbls fruity vinegar, such as pear, raspberry or pomegranate
1/4 cup snipped fresh chives
1/4 tsp Himalayan salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
2 ripe but firm pears, diced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted

Directions

Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in quinoa, reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa has popped, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk oil, vinegar, chives, salt & pepper in a large bowl. Add pears and toss to coat.

Drain any excess liquid from the cooked quinoa, if necessary. Add the quinoa to the pear mixture; toss to combine. Transfer to the fridge to cool for about 15 minutes or serve warm. Serve topped with nuts.

Recipe via: www.eatingwell.com

Maple-Walnut-Cinnamon-Vanilla Baked Pears Recipe

Makes 2 to 4 servings

Tender pears filled with warm maple syrup, toasted walnuts and organic vanilla makes a tasty desert or a healthy comfort food for chilly nights. The aroma of the cinnamon and vanilla baking in the oven will fill your entire home with a cozy aroma. This recipe is very simple to make is always a big hit with both kids and adults.

Ingredient List

4 pears, any variety
1/4 Cup of maple syrup (Grade B)
1/4 tsp organic vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Wash pears thoroughly. Slice the pears in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Cut a small sliver off the underside so the pears sit flat when placed upright on the baking sheet. Arrange the pear halves face up on a baking tray. Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon. Mix together maple syrup and vanilla extract. Drizzle each pear half with mixture, brushing over the face of the pear and leaving some inside the center. Divide walnuts evenly into the centers of the pears and sprinkle cinnamon and some vanilla over the top of each. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the pears are tender and cooked through. Serve warm from the oven and enjoy! Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

References & Research

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The World’s Healthiest Foods. www.whfoods.com

Loretta Lanphier is a Naturopathic Practitioner (Traditional), Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Clinical Herbalist as well as the CEO / Founder of Oasis Advanced Wellness in The Woodlands TX. She has studied and performed extensive research in health science, natural hormone balancing, anti-aging techniques, nutrition, natural medicine, weight loss, herbal remedies, non-toxic cancer support and is actively involved in researching new natural health protocols and products. A 14 year stage 3 colon cancer survivor, Loretta is able to relate to both-sides-of-the-health-coin as patient and practitioner when it comes to health and wellness. “My passion is counseling others about what it takes to keep the whole body healthy using natural and non-toxic methods.” Read Loretta’s health testimony Cancer: The Path to Healing. Loretta is Contributor and Editor of the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness. Check out Oasis Advanced Wellness and our natural skin care products Oasis Serene Botanicals.