Of the 4,000 pear tree varieties, only 30 are edible. Of those are two types, the firmer, crispier Asian pear and the juicier European cultivars, both provide a wide array of vitamins, minerals such as copper, iron, potassium, manganese and magnesium, several B vitamins, healthy acids and powerful polyphenols, as well as the vitamins C, A, and K.

 

The health benefits of pears include the ability for your body to fight infection, diabetes, cancer, colitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, gallbladder disorders, and gout. Pears are exceptionally high in fiber, which keeps your system regulated.

 

With all this going for them, it's no surprise that Homer's Odyssey referred to pears as a "gift from the gods."