Healing Powers of Pears

While apples are the stuff of legend, their close relatives, pears, are considered ho-hum. People often associate pears with their bland canned form, or with rare caramelized desserts; beyond that, pears don’t factor into most people’s daily thoughts. In the back of our minds, we know they exist, and that’s about it. Same with the pancreas: We’re aware that we each have this gland, yet unless it develops an issue, we barely register that it’s there. Meanwhile, the pancreas takes much of the body’s stress. And sometimes we abuse the pancreas without even realizing it by eating a combination of fried foods, rich dishes, too much table sugar, or high-fat desserts. Heartbreak, letdown, betrayal, and other forms of broken trust, as well as fear of any kind, are also hard on the pancreas.

For pancreas protection and stress assistance, we must turn to the pear. This neglected fruit helps rejuvenate this neglected and overtaxed gland, alleviating pancreatitis and helping to prevent pancreatic cancer. Pears are also amazing for other aspects of digestion. They act as an antispasmodic; help to soothe the linings of the stomach and intestinal tract; feed beneficial bacteria; starve and kill unproductive bacteria, parasites, and fungus; raise hydrochloric acid in the stomach; help prevent intestinal and stomach cancers; and reduce the bad acids produced by mucus and pathogens such as H. pylori. They also restore linings in the gut that have become damaged and calloused from bacteria.

The little granules in a pear’s flesh are loaded with phytochemicals, trace minerals, and amino acids such as valine, histidine, threonine, and lysine. The trace minerals and amino acids combine and lock onto poisons in the body such as pesticides, expelling them from your system. Trace mineral salts make pear juice high in electrolytes, which stabilizes blood sugar. Plus, pears are a great weight-loss food and heaven-sent for the liver, helping to cleanse and purify the organ and stop cirrhosis. Bring pears into your life, and you’ll see that they’re anything but boring.

Conditions

If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing pears into your life:

Pancreatitis; pancreatic cancer; liver cancer; diabetes; food poisoning; hiatal hernia; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO); intestinal infection of H. pylori, E. coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, and/or mold; cirrhosis of the liver; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; hepatitis D; fungal infections; stomach cancer; esophageal cancer; diverticulitis; diverticulosis; shingles; herpes; migraines; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); hypoglycemia

Symptoms

If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing pears into your life:

Acid reflux, high cholesterol, sluggish liver, dysfunctional liver, liver heat, liver stagnation, gas, bloating, constipation, gastritis, gastric distress, food allergies, upset stomach, intestinal inflammation, intestinal scar tissue, adhesions, insulin resistance, intestinal spasms, pancreas inflammation, appendix inflammation, weight gain, inflamed skin, diarrhea

Emotional Support

An overburdened, overstressed, and overheated pancreas and liver are often behind someone’s unsettled emotions such as frustration, irritation, uneasiness, or lack of peace. Pears are the ideal food to remedy this situation, because they are the ultimate cooling tonic, especially for the liver and pancreas.

Spiritual Lesson

The pear’s simplicity is a lesson for us all. Here’s a fruit that’s not complicated in the least, not flashy, exotic, hard to find, nor hard to eat—and that doesn’t reduce its power by one ounce. Gentle, unassuming, and quietly beautiful, pears can care for your body in a particular manner that no other fruit can. They teach us that we don’t have to cry out for attention or sit in resentment of not being noticed. We, too, can hold on to our true selves and fully possess our power without any need for show.

Tips

• Each phase of a pear’s ripening process has value. When a pear is hard and crunchy, that means its fiber content is high, which lowers bad cholesterol and sweeps out mucus, pathogens, and other debris from the intestinal tract. Crunchy pear slices are a great addition to salads. When a pear is soft and juicy, its glucose levels are higher, and it’s very easy to digest. Blended, ripe pear is an ideal food for someone recovering from food poisoning or another circumstance that kept her or him from eating.
• Pears are best eaten between breakfast and lunch, or in the late afternoon (shortly before dinner). They act as an appetite suppressant and stomach tonic to prevent you from craving sweets or overeating at meals.
• As a substitute for apple, try ripe pear in your fresh green-juice blends.

Cinnamon Baked Pears with Toasted Walnuts

Tender pears filled with warm maple syrup and toasted walnuts—this dish is comforting and perfect for chilly winter days. The aroma of the cinnamon baking in the oven will fill the whole house with warmth, and the end result will leave everyone feeling cozy and full. These are incredibly simple to make and a big hit with kids and adults alike.

• 4 pears, any variety
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Slice the pears in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Arrange the pear halves face up on a baking tray. Drizzle each pear half with maple syrup, brushing over the face of the pear and leaving some inside the center. Divide the walnuts evenly into the centers of the pears and sprinkle cinnamon over the top of each. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the pears are tender and cooked through. Serve warm from the oven and enjoy!

Makes 2 to 4 servings

Excerpt from the #1 New York Times Bestselling book Life-Changing Foods

This item posted: 13-Apr-2017

< Back to Essentials