Emerging research has explored the connection between pear consumption and cognitive function. According to a study from the Rush University Memory and Aging Project, eating more flavonols – a beneficial compound found in foods like pears, kale, spinach, tea, wine and olive oil – may be associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Read the original article in Scientific American here and view the original research here.  

Overweight and obesity rates are at an all-time high, reaching astounding numbers. According to a survey completed by the National Center for Health Statistics, the prevalence of American obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in 2011-12 was 34.9%. Pears are fat free, and are an excellent source of fiber that contains vitamins and other beneficial nutrients. Several studies suggest that adding pears to the diet aids weight loss, especially when pears replace less healthful or less filling foods. What we choose to eat makes a big difference. By choosing nutrient-dense, filling foods, we tend to eat fewer calories throughout the day. Nutrient-dense…

  …Keeping your gut healthy is key to helping maintaining strong immune and nervous systems. Much of the fiber in fresh pears is in the form of pectin, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease. Pears contain prebiotic fiber that helps promote intestinal health by providing food for beneficial probiotic bacteria. Besides containing zero calories, fiber helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, ensure bowel regularity, and reduce the risk of colon cancer (a disease associated with many factors)—all of which promote a healthy gut. This site is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to treat any illness or condition.…

  Vital nutrients, vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber can all be found in pears, and play a proactive role in maintaining a healthy diet and fighting against various cancers (1). Danish women who ate a healthy Nordic diet pattern, which included regular consumption of pears (part of the traditional Nordic diet), had a lower risk of colorectal cancer. (Br J Nutr, 2013). And data from the NIH-AARP (Am J Epidemiology 2007) study found that among common fruits and vegetables, there was a particularly protective effect from the intake of Rosacea fruits, such as pears, on esophageal cancer. (IntJ Cancer, 2007) For more information…

Blood pressure is simply the amount of force exerted when blood pushes against the walls of the blood vessels. High blood pressure, or hypertension, places too much pressure on the vessel walls, making the heart work very hard to push blood through tighter arteries. Over time, high blood pressure weakens the heart and causes hardening of the artery walls, making them weak and susceptible to injury. Often, hypertension has no symptoms whatsoever, but this damage to the blood vessels or heart, may lead to stroke, heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure, and vision loss. This is why hypertension has the…

Pears are rich in fiber and have vitamin C. Likewise, pears are sodium-free, fat free, and cholesterol-free –all things that are important for a healthy heart (1). In fact, in a study that looked at data from the Iowa Women’s Health Study, researchers found that pears and apples were the most protective against heart disease, compared with other common fruits (2). Heart disease is the primary cause of death in the United States, and stroke is the third leading cause of death, according to the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (3). Heart…