What are apricot benefits and side effects? Are apricots acidic? Gluten free? Vegan ? Low fodmap? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are apricot pros and cons: all the info on apricot that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on apricot benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about apricot benefits and side effects. This will include apricot benefits for your health and potential risks, apricot water footprint and carbon footprint, sustainability, if apricots are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if apricots are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about apricot benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Apricot Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Apricot benefits for health may include:
- asthma treatment
- constipation treatment
- digestive health
- electrolyte balance
- improved metabolism
- reduced fever
- regulated heartbeat
- improved vision
- blood coagulation
- bone strengthening
- cancer prevention
- cardiovascular health
- cholesterol reduction
- detoxification
- heart disease prevention
- lowered blood pressure
- boosted immune system
- acne treatment and improved complexion
- muscle building
- weight loss
Additionally, apricots are…
- Alkaline 8.5 pH level (raw) once digested
- Acidic 6.0 pH level (dried) once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
- High-FODMAP Food (may cause gas, bloating & pain for some)
- Apricots frequently contain sulfites when dried
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 1,287 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of apricots / 154 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of apricots
Carbon footprint: low, 0.23 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh apricots, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers
Destruction: low, apricot production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Apricots are…
- Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, apricot production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, apricot production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from apricot production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Apricots are….
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
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- Perfect for children ages 2-8.
- Available in paperback, ebook, audio formats.
- Suitable for vegan kids and vegan families (does not include farm animals, animal food products or byproducts).
- Written + Illustrated by HEALabel's Adriane Marie.
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Apricots are…
- May have labor issues
Where do most apricots come from? 📍
Most of the world’s apricots are grown in Uzbekistan, Turkey, Iran, Algeria, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, France.
The world’s top apricot exporting country is Chile, followed by Spain, Hong Kong, South Africa, USA, Italy, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, Germany and Portugal.
How are apricots used? 🍴
Apricots can be eaten raw or used to make desserts, crisps, pies, cakes, cobblers, bars, fruit leather, and more.
Are apricots nutritious? 🥗
Yes, apricots are packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
Are apricots alkaline or acidic?
Apricots are alkaline when raw and fresh, acidic when dried, canned or processed. What is the pH level of apricots? Apricots have a 8.5 pH level, raw and fresh, once digested.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
Are apricots gluten free?
Yes, apricots are gluten free. Apricots do not contain gluten when fresh. Apricots are a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Are apricots a common food allergen?
No, apricots are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to apricots but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Are apricots low FODMAP?
No, apricots are high-FODMAP, a food so you should limit or eliminate it while on a low-FODMAP diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Water footprint of apricots?
Apricots have a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
It takes 1,287 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of apricots / 154 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of apricots.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of apricots?
Apricots have a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 0.23 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of apricots, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may be…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Are apricots sustainable?
Apricots production is relatively sustainable since there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Are apricots vegan?
Yes, apricots are vegan. Apricots are a fruit from an apricot tree and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Do apricots have human rights issues?
At this time there have been no major concerns with apricot production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may be associated with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Conclusion
Apricot pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline when raw
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Apricot cons include:
- acidic when dried
- frequently contain sulfites when dried
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
Sources:
Healthline nutrition: apricots
How many animals are killed for food every day
