When we think of pears, we often think of wine-drenched desserts and cheese plates. But pears should be more than just a holiday treat since they're full of healthy and essential vitamins and nutrients. Plus, when you eat a diverse selection of in-season fruits and vegetables, it helps to to create a more diverse gut microbiome (aka your "second brain").
We're hearing more conversations and scientific discoveries about the importance of eating a diverse diet to keep your gut happy. So, if you're not eating pears then we suggest adding this popular fruit to your menu. Here's a few more reasons why we're adding pears to our plates this season.
Photo Courtesy of Starr Ranch® Growers
Fiber
Just like many other fruits and vegetables, pears are an excellent source of fiber! And if you're not eating enough fiber every day, then your health will suffer. According to the Mayo Clinic, "foods containing fiber can provide other health benefits as well, such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering your risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer." If that doesn't convince you then maybe the threat of constipation will – not eating enough fiber causes uncomfortable and unpleasant constipation.
Photo Courtesy of Starr Ranch® Growers
Vitamin C
Yep – pears have Vitamin C! While it's not a large amount (8% of the daily value per servings) we're of the mindset that little changes can have a big impact. For example, if you eat pears three out of seven days, that's 24% more Vitamin C you're adding to your week. Which really adds up when you consider eating this amount of Vitamin C over an entire year!
Zero Sodium
It's far too easy to reach for a bag of chips or pretzels when you're in need of a snack. If you're struggling to eat more fruits and vegetables, try using snack-time as an opportunity to get those fruits and veggies in. We love sliced pears with no-sodium nuts and a little cheese. Or smear pear rounds with your favorite nut butter and top with coconut, berries, or even a few dark chocolate chips if you're craving something sweet.
Low Calorie Food
Skip the pre-packaged snack foods and breakfast bars and reach for a ripe juicy pear instead. While many processed snacks offer only 100 calories, they often include a long list of ingredients you can't pronounce along with boat-loads of sugar. Try eating more unprocessed, natural, farm-fresh, nutrient-dense foods like pears every day to help keep your body and your brain and your "second brain" happy.
Variety
Just like apples, there a are different varieties of pears all with their own color, flavor profile, sweetness levels, and textures. You may be most familiar with the Bartlett Pear which is soft, juicy, and sweet. But have you ever tried a Bosc pear? This pear is much more crisp and firm than a Bartlett and offers a much less sweet taste. If you see the ultra-sweet Comice pears at your grocery store, pick these up for creating sauce or fruit butters.
No matter how you slice it, we're loving the health benefits from pears all season long! Pick up farm-fresh pears from our friends at Starr Ranch® Growers and learn more about their fruits here.
So many different flavors: I think its time to start buying pears!