Potassium-loaded Pears
Eat a pear a day to keep the doctor away…. Kind of. Although pears don’t have the same nutritional value as apples, studies show that eating pears regularly can do wonders for your health. Need a health energy booster before a workout? Eat a pear. Want to lose weight? Eat a pear. Having digestive problems? Eat ~two pears~. Because people tend to reach for apples more than pears, the health and nutrition of a pear is not as widely known. With that being said, to read about what the (almost) surprising health benefits of pears are, how to eat a pear the right way, and even to learn some recipes that are loved by our very own HealthCARE Express employees, keep reading!
What are the Benefits of Eating Pears?
Pears are a delicious and genuinely healthy snack. They are low-calorie yet chalked full of sometimes hard to get nutrients. Pears are rich with 6 grams of fiber (that’s more than a cup of kale!) which will keep you feeling full while also maintaining your heart and gut health. Pears have relatively low calories and no added sugars– that’s right, these sweet-tooth cravings are all natural. On top of that, pears help the weight loss process, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, give you that extra push needed in the bathroom, and they play a role in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. Pears are high in potassium which helps counteract excessive sodium intake – something that we’re all guilty of. See the full nutritional facts below.
Pear Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 101
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 17g
- Added Sugar: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Magnesium: 12mg
- Potassium: 206mg
- Vitamin C: 8mg
How to Eat a Pear the Right Way
There isn’t really a right or wrong way to eat a pear, but knowing these three tips will allow you to be enveloped in the sweet deliciousness of a perfectly ripe and juicy pear.
Check the ripeness
Imagine this: you’re at the grocery store looking at the big pile of pears. So many to choose from and you don’t want to get a bad batch like last time. Well, lucky for you there is a simple and easy way to check the ripeness of pears! Gently press your finger into the top of the pear next to the stem. If it is slightly squishy and the rest of the pear is firm, you’ve got yourself the perfectly ripe pear. If the pear is soft anywhere else, then that is an overripe pear that is basically a ball of mush.
Properly preserve your pears
Like most fruits, pears can go bad fast. If your pears are ripening faster than you can eat them, then try storing them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. If your crisper drawer is full, then take a large zip lock bag, puncture small holes into it, dampen a paper towel and place it in the bag along with the pear in the refrigerator. Weird, we know, but this process will have your pears staying fresh for weeks!
Remove the core
Biting into a pear like you would an apple is almost as cringy as biting
into an onion as if it were a fruit. The proper way to eat a pear is to remove the skin and the core. This can be tricky at first, but the easiest way to remove a core from the pear is to place a melon baller on top of the core and push it in. The core should then be easy to scoop out just in time for your mid-day snack.
Pear Recipes
Pear Freeze Pops
These pear freezer ice pops are the go to for DIY popsicles with the kids (or by yourself, we don’t judge!). This recipe only requires a blender, and ice pop molds–no cooking required!
Caramelized Pear and Bourbon Turnovers
Yes, these turnovers taste as good as the recipe makes them sound! With only 20 minutes of prep time, these delicious caramelized pear and bourbon turnovers are easy to make. These turnovers only take 12 ingredients and take about an hour and a half to both prep and cook.
Pear, Sage, and Hazelnut Bread
This one of a kind bread is described as, “a nordic fruit and nut loaf of bread that will satisfy the desire to eat more healthily, more interestingly, and more deliciously.” ENOUGH SAID!
Pear Jam
This recipe is for all those overripe pears that would just go to waste otherwise! This recipe is super easy and fun to make with the only ingredients being pears, sugar, and lemon juice.
Pear Crumble
Pear Crumble is one of the more popular dishes made by the masses and for good reason! The best part is, this fruity, buttery crumble combination of a dish requires ingredients that you are almost guaranteed to already have in the pantry.
HealthCARE Express + Eating Pears = Ultimate Health
If you’re allergic to pears, then not to worry because there are other foods you can eat for good health. For those lucky enough to snack on these tasty fruits, we’d love to hear your opinion on pears and even get your take on the recipes we shared! Here at HealthCARE Express we are experts in more than just pears, though. We have over 17 different locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Each of our facilities is equipped with professionals who can assist you with COVID services, occupational medicine, imaging and X-Rays, immunizations and vaccines, hormone therapy, and more. Visit our website to find an urgent care location closest to you, and give us a call! We can’t wait to hear from you.
