10 Major Side Effects of Eating Too Many Pears
Pear is a delicious fruit belonging to the genus Pyrus of the Rosaceae family. It is native to Western Europe and North America but is now grown in many regions of the world. Pears provide many health and beauty benefits as they are loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers, etc. However, there are also some side effects of eating too many pears.
Side Effects of Eating Too Many Pears
Some major side effects of eating too many pears are as follows.
(1) Eating Pears During During Pregnancy
Essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, etc in the pears help in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols and flavonoids, etc in pears protect the uterus and the fetus developing in it from the free radical damage.
Folic acid in pears helps with the brain development of the fetus and reduces the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida, etc.
However, high level of folic acid are bad for health and may give rise to rashes, cramps, nausea, seizures, sleep disorders, etc.
Eat pears in moderation and after consulting with the doctor to keep folate levels under check.
(2) Too Many Dietary Fibers Bad For Digestive Health
Dietary fibers like pectin in pears are natural laxatives that improve bowel movement and relieve constipation and other digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, and flatulence, etc.
Despite the digestive benefits of dietary fibers, consume pears moderately as a high level of dietary fibers may give rise to problems like cramping, diarrhea, malabsorption, constipation, intestinal gas, intestinal blockage, etc.
In some individuals, pectin may also increase the risk of pectin-induced asthma, and other allergic reactions like upset stomach,skin rashes, itching, irritation, swelling of lips and tongue, etc.
(3) Excessive Consumption May Interfere With Weight Loss
Pears help in weight loss as they have a low caloric value of 57 calories per 100 grams.
Dietary fibers in pears provide stomach satiety and controls overeating, a major cause of obesity.
A high level of water (80-84 percent) in the pears also contributes to weight loss.
However, the calories that you get from pears should be part of your daily calorie requirement.
The general recommended calorie intake for adult men and adult women are 2500 calories and 2000 calories respectively.
If you are already fulfilling your calorie needs through other food sources then consuming a lot of pears for weight loss may not be so beneficial.
On excessive consumption, dietary fibers in pears may interfere with food digestion and absorption of nutrients.
This leads to poor metabolism and fat accumulation.
(4) Too Much Vitamin C Is Bad For Our Health
Vitamin C in pears protects our cells from free radical damage and provides several benefits like reduced risk of cancer(s), improved cardiovascular health, stronger immunity, improved respiratory health, improved neurological health, and so on.
Adults aged between 19 to 64 need 40 mg of vitamin C per day, and the upper limit for vitamin C is 2000 mg per day.
A medium-sized pear weighing about 180 grams provides 7.7 mg of vitamin C.
If you already consume a lot of citrus fruit, then keep a watch on your total vitamin C intake.
If your doctor has prescribed you a vitamin C supplement, then consult with him about adding pears to your routine to ensure that vitamin C levels are under check, and there is no food-drug intolerance.
Vitamin C overdose may give rise to problems like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal bloating, and headache, etc.
(5) May Increase Risk of Cancer(s)
Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds in pears protect our cells from free radical damage and reduce the risk of several cancers like lung cancer, abdominal cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer, etc.
Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.
Despite these benefits, eat pears moderately as high levels of antioxidants may increase the risk of cancer and may even worsen it.
As per a 2011 study involving 35,500 men, high levels of vitamin E may increase prostate cancer risk by 17 percent.
As per another study conducted in 1996, high levels of vitamin A may increase lung cancer risk in male smokers by 18 percent.
(6) May Interfere With Blood Pressure Medication
Pears contain potassium, a natural vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels improves blood circulation, and provides relief from high blood pressure or hypertension.
Hypertension is a silent killer that affects millions around the world.
It gives rise to various health problems like severe headaches, nose bleed, chest pain, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, vision problems, and blood in urine, etc.
Zinc and magnesium in pears also aid in regulating high blood pressure.
Despite these benefits, eat pears moderately as high potassium levels may lower the blood pressure abnormally giving rise to symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, nausea, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, dehydration, lack of concentration, blurred vision, and pale skin, etc.
And, if you are on blood pressure medication or any other medication, then consult with your doctor before making pears a part of your routine to avoid food-drug intolerance risk.
(7) Too Much Iron Is Bad For Health
Iron, a vital mineral present in the pears increases the production of red blood cells in our body.
Red blood cells carry oxygenated blood to cells and tissues of the body and provide nourishment to them.
This aids in preventing and treating blood disorders such as iron-induced anemia.
Iron also strengthens immunity and helps in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
However, too much iron is bad and gives rise to symptoms like chronic fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, hair loss, depression, high blood sugar, etc.
If you are taking iron supplements then consult with your doctor before adding pears or any other iron-rich food to your routine to ensure there is no food-drug intolerance.
(8) Too Much Vitamin A Is Bad For Our Health
Pears contain vitamin A, an essential nutrient for the eyes as it improves vision, prevents eye dryness, and reduces the risk of night-blindness.
Vitamin A also protects the eyes from free radical damage and reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma, etc.
However, excessive intake of vitamin A is bad and may cause problems like blurry vision, swelling of bones, bone pain, poor appetite, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, rough skin, sensitivity to sunlight, etc.
If you are taking vitamin A supplement then consult with your doctor before adding pears to your diet to avoid food-drug intolerance risk.
(9) Stone Fruit Allergy
Pears are stone fruit.
If you are allergic to stone fruits like apricots, cherries, and nectarines, etc, then you are at higher risk of being allergic to pears .
Stone fruit allergy may cause symptoms like itching and swelling of the face, mouth, lips, throat, or tongue, diarrhea, runny nose, skin rashes, and vomiting, etc.
(10) Pears And FODMAP Sensitivity
Pears contain higher amounts of fructose than glucose and are not suitable for individuals with FODMAP sensitivity.
FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.”
Pears are high FODMAP food and may cause gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
People with FODMAP sensitivity should first consult with their doctor before consuming pears.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about the topic and is not be taken as medical advice or as an alternative to medical advice, treatment, and/or diagnosis. Always consult with your doctor before trying out any of the remedies/recipes suggested in the blog post.
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