Dried fruits are produced by removing most of the water that fresh fruits naturally contain, by various dehydration methods. In this process, the fruit shrinks, and the final product is very small in volume but very high in energy density and taste.Dried fruits belong to the category of functional foods of nature, ie they have proven health benefits.The most common dried fruits are raisins, followed by dates, plums, figs and apricots.Other dried fruits are mango, apple, papaya, strawberry, gooseberries, cherries, pineapple, raspberries, bananas and berries.Dried fruits can be stored for a much longer time than their fresh counterparts and can be a very handy and convenient snack as they are kept out of the fridge.Dried fruits are extremely nutritious as they are rich in trace elements, fiber and antioxidants.In fact, they contain about the same amount of nutrients as fresh fruit.Thus, a portion of dried fruits can provide a large percentage of the recommended daily intake and trace elements, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, selenium, potassium, copper, folic acid etc. Dried fruits are also characterized by a high content of antioxidants. Antioxidants have a positive effect on our health, improving blood flow, facilitating the functions of our digestive system health while minimizing the risk of several diseases.Moreover, multiple studies have shown that people who consume dried fruits tend to maintain a lower weight, and their body seems to store more nutrients than those who do not consume any dried fruits.
