Pear: how healthy is the juicy fruit?

Pear is not only easily digestible, it is also full of healthy ingredients. No wonder it is one of the most popular types of fruit in the world. A variety of health-promoting properties make pears a local  superfood . Incompatibilities are rare. In addition, the pear can be processed in many ways and is a convincing ingredient in both savory and sweet recipes. How healthy is the pear and what makes it so special? You can read about that in this article.

Pear: popular local fruit variety

The pear – also known as Pyrus communis in technical jargon – is a pome fruit and belongs to the rose family. It has that in common with the apple. The pear was known long before our era. Our current cultivated pear may have originated from various wild species as early as the Stone Age.

Without a doubt, the pear is one of the most popular fruits. The fact that it is wonderfully sweet and easily digestible also contributes to this, as does its health benefits. In our latitudes, the  pear harvest time  falls in late summer or early autumn and extends over several weeks. Many varieties can be stored for a long time, which is why local fruits are usually available for around five to nine months. However, because pears are grown all over the world, you can get them all year round.

Pears – great variety of varieties

The pear is extremely varietal. Several thousand varieties are known worldwide. No wonder that names like Williams Christ or Gute Luise are familiar to many people. Depending on the harvest time, a distinction is made between summer, autumn and winter pears.

Pears can also be divided into three subgroups:

• Table pears  are soft, sweet and easily digestible and are therefore ideal for eating raw.
• Cooking pears  , on the other hand, are  harder and develop their flavors when cooked. They are boiled down and served as compote, jelly or chutney.
• Most pears  , on the other hand, are used to make juice and must.

By the way: The apple-shaped Nashi pear is not one of our cultivated pears, but comes from Asia. This type of pear is also often referred to as the Chinese or Asian pear.

Why is the pear healthy?

The effect of the pear on our health has been at the center of interest for centuries. The pear is said to have many healing properties. But what makes the pear so healthy?

Pears are high in fiber and draining

The pear is a true fiber bomb. An average-sized fruit contains about six grams  of fiber  (3.3 grams for 100 grams of pear). For classification: The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends adults to consume 30 grams of fiber daily. As a fruit rich in fiber, the pear stimulates the intestines and promotes digestion. No wonder that it is often used for problems such as constipation or  constipation  .

Pears are digestible

Compared to other types of fruit, the pear contains little fruit acid. This makes them gentle on the stomach and easily digestible. It enriches the diet even in the case of hypersensitivity and gastrointestinal diseases. It is particularly suitable for babies and children. Pear is often fed to start with complementary foods.

Pear juice is also healthy. Fermented pear juice, for example, inhibits the bacterium Helicobacter pylori in the gastrointestinal tract  , which reduces the likelihood of gastritis and ulcers.

Pears keep blood sugar levels constant

Not only do pears have a low glycemic load (GL), they’re also low in calories and contain far more  fructose  than glucose. All this, together with their high fiber content, means that hardly any insulin is released after eating pears   . Their influence on the blood sugar level is therefore low. No wonder, then, that pears – enjoyed in moderation – are also   a healthy snack for people with diabetes .

Pears are rich in secondary plant substances

The pear is particularly rich in secondary plant substances. These not only have an  antioxidant  effect (counteract cell aging), but also promote lipid metabolism and have antidiabetic, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties. Since secondary plant substances are mainly found under the skin, you should not peel the pear before enjoying it.

Pears are used for joint pain

In naturopathy, pears are also used for rheumatism or  gout  . Cooked briefly, special enzymes are released, which then eliminate uric acid. This should result in a corresponding reduction in pain.

Can eating pears have side effects?

Basically, pears are very digestible and have few side effects. Cooked pears are healthy for existing gastrointestinal complaints because they are particularly gentle on the stomach and intestines. They are therefore part of the light diet.

However, there are intolerances where pears should not be on the menu, or only in small quantities. If you have an existing fructose intolerance, it is better to avoid the popular type of fruit. The ratio of glucose and fructose is very unbalanced and the fructose content is high. This can quickly lead to typical symptoms.

 Caution is also required in the case of  histamine intolerance. Although pears themselves do not contain histamine, they do contain histamine-like substances that can trigger corresponding reactions. In addition, pears cause a slight release of histamine in the body. If you have an intolerance, you don’t have to do without pears entirely, but you should reduce your consumption.

The situation is similar with sorbitol intolerance. Sorbitol  is a sugar alcohol that is increasingly found in pears. Intolerance causes symptoms similar to fructose intolerance. In small amounts, however, pear is tolerated in the case of sorbitol intolerance.

Should you eat pears in the evening?

Many people do not tolerate fruit and vegetables very well, especially before going to bed. So can you still eat pear in the evening? It can be said that the fruit is generally digestible and is also well tolerated later in the day – especially when cooked. Unlike other fruits, pear does not cause blood sugar levels to rise sharply. It also contains little fruit acid,   so it hardly causes heartburn . Only the high fiber content can have a negative impact. It stimulates intestinal activity, which is perceived as unpleasant in the evening.

How many calories does a pear have?

Although the pear is not quite as low in calories as some other types of fruit, it is still good for the figure. Their calorie content is quite an impressive 55 kcal (kilocalories) per 100 grams of pear (equivalent to 230 kilojoules), but the low fat content (less than half a gram per 100 grams of pear), a low fruit acid content and the high water content make up for this.

Are pears good for losing weight?

As already mentioned, there are lower-calorie fruits than the pear. Nevertheless, it does well on the diet menu. It is low in fat, has a high water content and contains a lot of fiber. Thus, it has a digestive and dehydrating effect. Last but not least, the pear is also well suited for losing weight because its high fruit acid content makes it appear sweeter than it actually is. So you automatically eat smaller amounts.

What vitamins and minerals are in the pear?

Compared to their low fat content, pears are quite high in vitamins and  minerals , although there are other types of fruit that are more nutritious. Above all  , vitamin C , vitamin A, vitamin B1 as well as  potassium ,  magnesium  and  folic acid  are found in the pear. It strengthens the  immune system  and has a draining effect, which prevents bladder and kidney problems. The low fruit acid content not only makes the pear wonderfully sweet, it also ensures that it does not attack the teeth. Above all, the combination of vitamins, minerals and secondary plant substances accounts for the health value of the pear.

Nutritional values ​​of the pear at a glance

The most important nutritional values ​​per 100 grams of edible part (raw) of the pear are listed below:

• Energy: 55 kilocalories
• Fat: 0.3 grams
• Protein: 0.5 grams
• Carbohydrates : 12.4 grams
• Fiber: 3.3 grams
• Potassium: 128 milligrams
• Calcium: 9 milligrams
• Magnesium: 8 milligrams
• Iron : 0.2 milligrams
• Vitamin A: 2 Micrograms
• Vitamin B1: 30 micrograms
• Vitamin B2: 40 micrograms
• Vitamin B6 : 20 micrograms
• Folic acid: 14 micrograms
• Vitamin C: 5 milligrams
• Vitamin E: 0.4 milligrams

Buying, storing and processing pears

There are a few things to consider when buying, storing and processing pears. We have summarized the most important tips and tricks for you below:

• Buying pears:  Depending on what you want to do with them, it is best to buy table pears or cooking pears. The shell should be smooth and undamaged. It is essential to pay attention to bruises, as pears spoil quickly. Do not choose pears that are too ripe, it is better to let them ripen later. Incidentally, brownish spots around the base of the stem are completely normal, they are also called russeting.
• Storing pears:  Ripe fruit should be enjoyed within a few days. It is best to store them in the fridge. Hard fruits ripen well at room temperature. Storage pears, on the other hand, like it cool (maximum six degrees) with high humidity. Basements are ideal, alternatively   a balcony or terrace is also suitable in cold weather . During storage, the fruit must be checked regularly for bruises and mold.
• Preserving pears :  Preserving and canning pears is the best way to preserve them. The pear cannot be frozen in one piece, as its flesh becomes mushy. Processed into mousse or compote, freezing for a few months is not a problem.
• Processing the pears:  after thorough washing, remove the stalk and core. Whether the shell is left or not depends not least on the recipe. Basically, there are many ways to process pears. They can also be preserved for a long time by boiling them down to make jam, mush, compote or chutney.

Ideas for recipes with pear

Table and cooking pears are versatile in the kitchen. You can enjoy them raw in  smoothies , muesli or fruit salads, for example. You can boil, bake, stew, dry and even grill pears – there are no limits to your imagination. Whether juicy pear cake, pear crumble, pear Helene, pear as a special ingredient in casseroles, as an accompaniment to meat dishes or pear halves on the grill – whatever tastes good is allowed.

Pears are particularly popular for jam, compote or chutney, so that they can be enjoyed all year round. Pear sauce is particularly popular with babies and children. Last but not least, dried pears from the dehydrator or oven are popular as a snack with young and old.

Tasty recipes with pear – from savory to sweet – can be found in abundance. The ingredients can usually be varied here, so that there is something for every  taste  .