Apricots offer food for thought

Dear Betsy,
I absolutely LOVED your article about the carrots and your food recipe and beauty recipe.

Can we please, please, have more of these original articles from you? I find it fascinating to understand how foods can be so good for us and eating a carrot will never be the same again. I have passed your recipes on to my sister in England, via the GulfWeekly website, who tried them both and also loved them, as did the girls in her office.  So thought you might like to know that you also have fans in Bristol, UK.  I remember reading somewhere that apricots were good for you and I always see them on sale in Bahrain but I am not sure what to do with them, so can you enlighten me?
Thanks,
Tina Haldane

Dear Tina,
Thanks for your email and Hello Bristol! It is great to know we have readers from the UK. It seems obvious to me that the nutritional content of the foods we eat, or don’t eat, are of vital importance to our health and well being.
The power of good nutrition has always intrigued me and this is something we can all practice even if it is something as simple as just substituting a cup of regular tea for a cup of green tea (very powerful anti-oxidant) once a day. 
Apricots are very popular in the Gulf region and are packed full of goodies, whether dried or fresh. I have featured two recipes for you, one edible and one for beauty. Hope you enjoy them, Tina.
Fresh and dried apricots have excellent health benefits for all the family as well as vitamin A, they contain iron, copper and niacin (vitamin B3.)
Their high beta-carotene content and antioxidant effects make them an excellent defence against cancer.
Beta-carotene has also been shown to help protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun but this does not excuse you from using sun protection creams.  
Apricots can also help keep your eyes healthy. How? When the body realises supplies of vitamin A are running low it has the capacity to convert the pigment in beta-carotene into this important vitamin. 
Lack of vitamin A can cause eye secretions to dry up leading to dry, red swollen eyes. If allowed to continue this can lead eventually to vision loss, amongst other problems. Contact lens wearers will find eating apricots helpful, to avoid dry-eye.  In the Gulf region where we are surrounded by piercing sunlight, cataracts are a major risk. 
The antioxidant properties in the fruit can help protect the eyes and reduce the risk of damage to the lens, which leads to cataracts.   
Apricots can also help high blood pressure, anemia, constipation, fluid retention and are great for your skin.
Chose unsulphured apricots when buying dried fruit and for fresh fruits choose the darkest fruits available.
Apricot oil is fabulous for facial skin. It has an anti-ageing, hydrating and soothing effect and its anti-inflammatory properties make it great for sensitive or irritated skin.
The apricot kernel was never thrown away by  camel herders, as it is said to have been used by them, in years gone by as a primitive form of crude camel IUD , inserted into the uterus by the camel herders to prevent the females from becoming pregnant, which reduced their usefulness as part of a load-bearing caravan. Don’t try this at home!

EDIBLE  
Apricot and Sesame Porridge
Start the day off in a spectacularly healthy way with this delicious breakfast.
Soak a handful of oats and 2 oz of dried unsulphured apricots in milk or soy milk if you are lactose intolerant.
Leave for 20 mins if possible. Cook the porridge on the stove in the normal way until a thick creamy consistency is obtained.  Pour into a serving bowl.  Drizzle some organic honey over the porridge and sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top.  Sesame seeds are very high in calcium making them a great choice for those who can’t eat regular dairy products.

BEAUTY 
Apricot Skin Glow Mask
• 1 tablespoon apricot kernel oil
• 1 tablespoon organic honey, Manuka is best
• 1 small ripe banana (look for brown spots on the skin)
• 2 tablespoons double cream
• 1 to 2 tablespoons potato flour or rice flour
Mash up banana, add oil, honey and cream and mix together.  Add enough flour to obtain a creamy texture, mix thoroughly and apply to a cleansed neck, face and eye area. Leave for up to 30 minutes before rinsing off with warm water and applying a toner and moisturiser.  This is also great for the back of the hands. Good for all skin types, except active, pustular acne.

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