apricot

Apricot is a food that we are familiar with. Its scientific name is Prunus armeniaca, also known as apricot. It is a plant of the genus Prunus and the subgenus Prunus. Its flesh and kernel are edible. It is native to China, and the resources of wild species and cultivated varieties are very rich. The world's apricot plants are divided into 6 geographical ecological groups and 24 regional subgroups, with a total of 10 species. Among them, there are 9 species in China: common apricot, Siberian apricot, Liao apricot, purple apricot, Zhidan apricot, Zhenghe apricot, Limei apricot, Tibetan apricot, and plum. There are nearly 3,000 cultivated varieties, and the common apricot species is the most widely distributed. China began to cultivate it in large quantities in 3000 BC. "Xia Xiaozheng" records: "In April, apricots can be seen in the park."

Nutritional value of apricots

1. Unripe fruits contain more flavonoids, which can prevent heart disease and reduce myocardial infarction;

2. Apricot is the fruit richest in vitamin B17, which is an extremely effective anti-cancer substance. It only kills cancer cells and has no toxicity to normal healthy cells.

The whole apricot tree is a treasure with a wide range of uses and high economic value. Apricot fruit is rich in nutrients, containing a variety of organic ingredients and vitamins and inorganic salts necessary for the human body. It is a fruit with high nutritional value. Apricot fruit has good medical effects and occupies an important position in Chinese herbal medicine. It is mainly used to treat wind-cold lung diseases, promote fluid production and quench thirst, moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm, and clear away heat and detoxify. Almonds are more nutritious, containing 23% to 27% protein, 50% to 60% crude fat, 10% sugars, as well as inorganic salts such as phosphorus, iron, potassium, calcium, and a variety of vitamins. It is a good tonic.

The efficacy and function of apricot

It occupies an important position in traditional Chinese medicine, and is mainly used to treat wind-cold lung diseases, promote fluid production and quench thirst, moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm, and clear away heat and detoxify.

In addition to being eaten fresh, apricot meat can also be processed into apricot preserves, canned apricots in syrup, dried apricots, apricot jam, apricot juice, apricot wine, apricot green plums, apricot plums, apricot danpi, etc. Almonds can be made into almond cream, almond juice, almond cheese, almond jam, almond snacks, almond pickles, almond oil, etc. Almond oil is light yellow and transparent, with a fragrant taste. It is not only an excellent edible oil, but also an important raw material for advanced paints, cosmetics and high-quality soaps.

How to eat apricots and what to avoid

Apricots are sour, hot, and slightly toxic. Overeating can damage bones and muscles, trigger old diseases, and even cause hair loss and vision loss. If pregnant women or children overeat, they are very likely to develop sores and boils. At the same time, since fresh apricots are highly acidic, overeating them can not only increase the acid in the stomach and cause stomach problems, but also corrode teeth and induce tooth decay. For apricots that are more harmful to people, 3 to 5 pieces are considered appropriate.

However, making apricots into apricot juice or soaking them in water for several times before eating is not only safe but also beneficial to health. For friends who love to eat apricots, in addition to controlling their greedy mouths, it is a good idea to eat more processed apricot preserves and dried apricots.

Suitable people for apricot

Almonds can be eaten by the general population, but the following types of people should not eat too many apricots to avoid adverse effects on their health.

1. It is especially suitable for people with acute and chronic bronchitis cough, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer patients, cancer and postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy patients, and those with thinning hair;

2. Pregnant women, young children, patients, especially those with diabetes, should not eat too many apricots or apricot products. [Can pregnant women eat almonds? ]

Note on consumption: In addition to being eaten raw, the fruit can also be made into processed products such as dried apricots and apricot preserves, and the almond inside the kernel is edible.

How to eat apricots, a complete guide to cooking apricots

1. Apricots from the South and North Meet Pears

Ingredients: Southern almonds (20g), Northern almonds (15g), 1 pear

practice:

Wash and peel southern almonds, northern almonds and pears, cut into small pieces, put into a casserole with rock sugar, add appropriate amount of water, and simmer for 1 hour.

2. Three-color Pleurotus eryngii

Ingredients: fresh king oyster mushroom, ham, snow peas, salt, onion, ginger, garlic, chicken powder, pepper, sugar, sesame oil, water starch, cooking oil

practice:

1. Cut the king oyster mushroom, ham sausage and snow pea into slices and blanch them in boiling water for later use;

2. Light a wok and pour in oil. When the oil is hot, add chopped green onion, ginger slices, and garlic slices and stir-fry until fragrant. Then pour in the king oyster mushrooms, ham, and snow peas. Add appropriate amounts of water, salt, chicken essence, pepper, and sugar. Thicken with water starch and drizzle with sesame oil before serving.

3. Dried Apricots and Pork Lung Soup

Ingredients: a pair of pig lungs, 200g lean pork, 100g dried cabbage (dry goods), 10 southern and northern apricots, an appropriate amount of tangerine peel, about 20g rock sugar (you can also use 8 candied dates instead), 2 spoons of salt

practice:

1. After soaking the dried cabbage (about 2 hours), wash off the sand hidden in the leaves and cut into sections; wash the apricots, tangerine peel and lean pork, and blanch the lean meat for later use.

2. Pour water back and forth into the trachea connected to the pig lungs, squeeze the water until the pig lungs turn white. Cut the lungs into large pieces, blanch them in boiling water, then pick them up and cut them into slices of appropriate size.

3. Add 10 bowls of water into a clay pot, put in dried cabbage, tangerine peel, and apricots, bring to a boil over high heat, then add lean pork and pork lungs, rock sugar, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours, then add salt.