What is Nashi or Asian Pear?
The nashi is the fruit of the Asian Pear, a species belonging to the Rosaceae family. Also known as "Asian pear", it is native to Asia. In particular, nashi is the so-called Chinese pear in both Japan and Korea (sometimes called Japanese or Korean pear). Compared to the European pear it is richer in water and has a grainy texture. Often the shape is different as Asian pears tend to be more rounded, like an apple.
Currently the world's leading producer of nashi is China, followed by Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the United States.
What are the nutritional properties of nashi?
100 g of nashi provide 43 Calories.
A fruit of 255 g contains about:
- 28.82 g carbohydrates
- 0.77 g of protein
- 0.26 g of lipids
- 2.3 g of fibers
- 7.65 of vitamin C
- 0.51 mg of niacin
- 0.36 mg of pantothenic acid
- 0.26 mg of vitamin E
- 0.05 mg of thiamine
- 0.05 mg of pyridoxine
- 15.3 micrograms of folate
- 1.28 micrograms of biotin
- 357 mg of potassium
- 18,05 mg of phosphorus
- 12.75 mg of Magnesium
- 5.53 mg of iron
- 5.1 mg of calcium
- 0.26 mg of zinc
- 0.15 mg of copper
- 0.1 mg of manganese
When should you not eat nashi?
No interactions of nashi (or pears in general) with drugs or substances have been found. If in doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.
Seasonality of nashi
Nashi season is autumn. It is generally available on the market until the month of December.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of nashi
The benefits arising from nashi consumption depend above all on its high content of magnesium, a mineral that can help fight fatigue. Also it is a food rich in fiber and micronutrients that may help protect cardiovascular health and that of the bones.
In general, the food consumption of pears has no particular contraindications, and is not associated with special health risks.
