Information about dried fruit is very contradictory. Some say it’s a nutritious and healthy snack, while others claim it’s no better than candy. This is a detailed article about dry fruits and their effect on your health.

What is dried fruit?

A dried fruit is a fruit that has had almost all of its water content removed through drying. The fruit shrinks during this process and the dried fruit remains small and full of energy. Raisins are the most common type, followed by dates, plums, figs and apricots. Other types of dried fruit are also available, sometimes in candied (sugar coated) form. These include mangoes, pineapples, blueberries, bananas and apples. Dried fruits can be stored for longer than fresh fruits and can be a useful snack, especially on long trips where a refrigerator is not available. Authentic dried fruit has most of its water content removed. Its most common types are raisins, dates, plums, figs and apricots.

Dried fruits are rich in micronutrients, fiber and antioxidants. Dried fruit is very nutritious. A piece of dried fruit contains almost the same amount of nutrients as fresh fruit, but is concentrated in a much smaller package. By weight, dried fruit contains 3.5 times the fiber, vitamins and minerals of fresh fruit.