Apricot History And Unique Benefits For Humans
Origin and distribution
In modern scientific literature, there are from three to six possible centers of origin of apricot. Among them, the most likely primary center is the Tien Shan region in China. At the same time, it is noted that there is still a lack of unequivocal evidence in favor of the Chinese version. In the past, Armenia was often considered the homeland of apricot, which is associated with the history of the penetration of apricot from Asia to Europe. Biologist De Poerderle wrote in the 18th century: “the name of this tree comes from Armenia, the Asian province, where it appeared and from where it was brought to Europe ...” In the 19th century, it was believed that the apricot was brought from Armenia to Greece by Alexander the Great, and from Greece came to Italy. However, this version is not confirmed by the Roman and Greek written sources of that time: the apricot is not mentioned in them. In the same time, the apricot is mentioned in the sources of the 1st century, which may indicate that the apricot entered Italy in the 1st century BC. e., after the Roman-Parthian wars. Pliny, Dioscorides and Columella called the apricot the “Armenian apple” (Mela armeniaca, pomum armeniacum), which suggests that the apricot was brought to Rome from Armenia or by Armenian merchants. Similar names for apricot are found in other languages, for example, aram.hazzura armenaja or arab. tuffah al-armani ("Armenian apple"), Akkad. armanum , ital. armellino . Ibn al-Fakih in his “Book of Countries” mentions the apricot under his Armenian name, Tsiran, and calls it “the fruit of Armenia”. At the same time, apricot was grown all over Asia, and it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the apricot came from in Europe.
Compound
The pulp of the fruit contains a large amount of sugars (mainly sucrose), organic acids (citric, tartaric, malic, salicylic), carotene, pectin, starch, as well as tannins and flavonoid substances (quercetin, isoquercitrin, lycopene, etc.). In addition, the pulp of the fruit contains niacin, vitamins C, B1, B2, P.
Properties
Fresh and dried apricot fruits have a laxative, weak diuretic, tonic, anti-atherosclerotic effect, improve metabolism and hematopoiesis, are a source of B vitamins, ascorbic acid, potassium, iron.
The shredded paper in apricot protects against colon cancer. In addition, it reduces constipation, hemorrhoids, varicose veins.
Application
The best cure for lazy intestines is apricot. In ancient medicine, apricots, due to their cold and damp nature, were prescribed as a laxative. It is high in fiber, which helps to keep your gastrointestinal tract working, enhances intestinal motility and allows the body to quickly get rid of waste products and remove them from the body. Organic acids give apricot fruits a mild sour taste and normalize the digestion process. They stimulate the intestines very strongly.
Apricot has a mild laxative effect, apricot juice normalizes the acidity of the stomach, so it can be used for colitis and constipation.
Apricot improves the processes of hematopoiesis and the work of the heart, promotes the elimination of cholesterol from the body, stimulates intestinal motility, and has a general strengthening effect. It is used as a mild laxative, thirst-quenching and antipyretic agent. As a diuretic, with sluggish bowel movements. In order for the tree to grow well and bear fruit abundantly, you need to take care of its correct planting. Apricots can be grown by seeds or by grafting.
Preparing a planting site for an apricot is slightly different from preparing a pit for other fruit crops. First, the soil must be well-drained to provide the root with an uninterrupted supply of oxygen. Secondly, you should carefully pay attention to the moisture in the soil, because excessive moisture contributes to the decay of the root system.
The depth and width of the planting pit should be at least 80 cm. Pour a layer of expanded clay, gravel or crushed stone at the bottom of the pit. Pour a small amount of wood ash or coal, ammonium nitrate in another layer - this will be a mineral fertilizing. In the third layer, the topmost one, pour a little soil to avoid contact of the seedling rhizome with top dressing.
For planting, it is best to use an annual apricot seedling. On the root system, visible damage or tears of the surface part must be removed. It is not recommended to update existing cuts due to the fact that this negatively affects the growth and development of the tree. It is advisable to prepare the landing site in the spring so that the soil has time to collect the required amount of moisture. If you plan to plant an apricot in the fall, then dig a hole 20 days before the onset of the first frost. When digging a hole, discard the upper chernozem layer to one side, the lower to the other. When filling the roots of the seedling, use the surface layer of soil. Remember, an adult apricot tree takes about 5 m within a crown radius. Therefore, do not plant the tree near dwellings and other trees.
WHEN TO PLANT APRICOTS
The survival rate of the tree depends on the planting time. It is best to plant the tree at the end of April before the buds awaken on the seedling. It should be taken into account that, depending on climatic conditions, the beginning of the growing season may occur later or earlier, so focus on it.