What do you think is better for you: an apple or a pear? Apples may get all the publicity and the famous saying, but pears are even better than apples from a nutrition standpoint. Why?

The answer is…

Eating a medium sized pear, which weighs about 6 ounces, provides you with about 30% more fiber than an apple of the same size!  Yes, you read that correctly.  To get the maximum benefit from either fruit, be sure to eat the skin.  You lose about half of the fiber if you peel either fruit.

Pears contain both soluble and insoluble fiber.  Both types of fiber are important to could health and many Americans don’t get enough of either which has negative implications for our waistline and our gut health.  As an expert in gut health as well as weight management, I could go on for hours about the benefits of fiber and the types.  It’s a bit complex for a blog post, and depending on your health conditions and status, I’d have different recommendations for which types you would be best for you.

How to choose a good pear

To fully enjoy pears, explore the many varieties of pears that are available.  As with apples, each variety offers a slightly different texture and taste.  Click here to find information about the different varieties of pears.  You may find there are some varieties you enjoy more than others.

Another key to enjoying pears is handling them properly. Pears only ripen when they are off the tree and many of the pears in stores are not yet fully ripe.  Until your pears are to the point of ripeness you enjoy, avoid putting them put them in the refrigerator. Keeping them cold slows the ripening process.  If you need to speed up the ripening process, place your pears next to a bunch of bananas.

What is the best way to judge if a pear is ripe? USA Pears recommends applying gentle pressure to the neck of the pear.  If it yields, the pear is ripe.  It is important to note, however, that this technique will not work with Bartlett pears.

Ways to enjoy pears

There are plenty of ways to enjoy pears:

• Add slices to a bowl of oatmeal for a warm and filling breakfast of healthy fiber. (I love this with a dash of nutmeg!)
• Wash. Dry. Eat.
• Add pears to a salad. They are especially good in a spinach salad with walnuts.
• Enjoy diced pears with plain yogurt or cottage cheese for a boost of protein and fiber.
• Poach them, or heat up canned pears, and serve with pork or chicken.  Pears are especially good with my rosemary & garlic chicken recipe.

Looking for other ways to “eat healthier”, lose weight or have a healthier gut?

The key to success is understanding how to work with your body and brain. Changing how we eat is about far more than food choices, calories, and how much or how often we eat something. Get your free copy of “5 Secrets to Successfully Changing How You Eat” by clicking here.