Apricots in the medical arena, apricot seeds are known to contain the highest amounts of cyanide generating compounds, which the cancer-fighting drug laetrile is derived from. Apricots are orange colored fruits rich in beta carotene, lycopene and fiber. Good for healthy skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin A from beta carotene is needed for good sight; insufficient amounts can cause night blindness, impair sight and increase susceptibility to colds and other illnesses. •
Apricots provide one of the first colorful signs of summer. Although dried and canned apricots are available year-round, fresh apricots with a plentiful supply of vitamin C, are season from May through August. Any fresh fruit you see during the winter months have been imported from either South America or New Zealand.
History: Apricots were first discovered growing wild on the mountain slopes of China near the Russian border. The cuttings of this fruit made their way across the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean. The Spanish explorers are credited for introducing the apricot to the New World, where they were planted in the gardens of California Spanish missions. In 1792, in an area south of San Francisco, the first major production of apricots was recorded.
Apricot leaves, flowers, seeds and bark contain compounds which generate cyanide. In plant tissues, cyanide is low enough in concentration to be considered therapeutic, particularly for cancer (tumor) treatment, and has been used for this purpose since at least 25 BC. Apricot oil was used against tumors and ulcers in England in the 1600s. Apricot seeds contain the highest amounts of these cyanide generating compounds, and the cancer drug laetrile is derived from this source.
The statements on this Web site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information presented is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment from your own doctor or healthcare provider. Nothing presented here is intended as a substitute for prescription medication or any other medical treatment prescribed by your doctor.
