If you want to lose weight, there are plenty of different diets to choose from. Which one is best? That depends on you! In most cases, the best diet is the one you can stick to.
Not for a week or a month, but for as long as it takes to reach your goal weight.
For some, the best diet is something simple like meal replacement shakes. Others do better on intermittent fasting.
But, if you are serious about losing weight fast, the low-carb ketogenic diet is a good option. On keto, you cut your carb intake to 50 grams per day or less.
As well as lowering your daily caloric intake, eating fewer carbs forces your body to burn more fat for fuel. Keto meals are high in fat and protein, which makes them more filling, too.
However, to stay on keto, you must avoid high-carb foods like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, and most fruit, with the exceptions being avocados, some berries, and a few other varieties. Lack of fruit can be a barrier for some dieters.
After all, fruit is naturally sweet and very nutritious, so it’s hard to give up. Are apricots keto-friendly? The answer will probably be a pleasant surprise!
Are Apricots Keto Friendly?
What are Apricots
Apricots are a small, yellow fruit that looks like a miniature peach. Also known as Armenian plums, apricots are tart, sweet, and juicy. Apricots have a large stone, which makes up a lot of their weight.
The stone is inedible and should be discarded. That said, powered apricot stones are often used for skin exfoliation and are better for the environment than plastic microbeads.
There are several different varieties of apricot, including:
- Common apricot
- Briançon apricot
- Purple apricot
- Hongping apricot
- Manchurian apricot
- Japanese apricot
- Siberian apricot
- Zhenghe apricot
As their name suggests, the common apricot is the most widely cultivated and consumed.
Apricots can be eaten fresh and raw but are often cooked to make things like pies, tarts, cobblers, and jams. Apricots are also dried and eaten as snacks or used in cooking.
All varieties of apricot are similarly nutritious.
Nutritional Information
Apricots are very nutritious and contain several beneficial vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients.
One apricot (35 grams or about 1.25 ounces) contains:
- 17 calories
- 3.9 grams of carbohydrate
- 0.7 grams of fiber
- 3.2 grams of net (useable) carbs
- 0.5 grams of protein
- 0.1 grams of fat
Apricots also provide the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Copper
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
- Zinc
As well as these well-known vitamins and minerals, apricots are also a valuable source of antioxidants, namely beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
Health Benefits of Apricots
Apricots are packed with vital nutrients, giving them a range of health benefits, including:
- Healthier skin
- Increased immunity
- Better vision
- Improved digestion
- Reduced inflammation
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved liver health
However, it’s important to understand that these benefits are not unique to apricots; most vegetables and fruits are similarly nutritious and beneficial.
What about dried apricots
Dried apricots contain similar amounts of vitamins and minerals but are higher in calories, carbs, and sugar by weight than fresh apricots a they contain less water.
Also, because they’re smaller, it’s easier to eat more dried apricots. You can pop them in your mouth like candy.
Dried apricots are pretty healthy, but eating too many could lead to weight gain and will definitely kick you out of ketosis.
For weight loss, fresh apricots are arguably the best option.
Is it Keto?
Apricots could be keto-friendly, providing you don’t eat too many. With 3.1 grams of net carbs per single apricot, you should be able to eat a few without ingesting so many carbs that you exit ketosis.
In reality, you’ll need to track your carb intake to determine if apricots fit your diet. For example, if you have not had many carbs, you might be able to eat half a dozen apricots and still stay in ketosis.
However, if you’re closing in on your carb threshold, just a couple of apricots could derail your diet.
In short, you CAN eat apricots on keto, but only in small amounts, and only if you have carbs left in your daily allowance.
Bottom Line
Apricots are small, sweet, tart, and delicious. They’re relatively low in carbs, contain appreciable amounts of fiber, and are very nutritious. A single raw apricot contains about 3.1 grams of net carbs, so you could eat a few on the low-carb ketogenic diet.
That said, apricots are very easy to eat, and a lot of people would struggle to stop at just a couple. Eat more than half a dozen, and you’ll probably exit ketosis and derail your diet.
If you want to eat fruit on keto, the best options are avocados, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Better yet, skip the fruit altogether and fill up on low-carb veggies instead, which you can eat in abundance on keto.
