The tasty fruit,
a peach (Prunus persica), has sweet yellow or white flesh. They are related to
other species of the fruit families, such as plums, apricots, cherries, and almonds.
Peach is a nutritionally rich fruit consumed in various ways around the world, such as raw peach fruit, peach juice, and when combined with other ingredients to make peach milkshakes, white grape peach juice, and mango peach juice.
Peaches are rich in several nutrients such as minerals,
vitamins, antioxidants, and other useful plant compounds. One medium-sized
peach (150 grams) provides the following nutrients and calories. (1):
Calories
|
59
|
Protein
|
1.4 g
|
Fat
|
0.4 g
|
Carbs
|
14 g
|
Fibers
|
2.3 g
|
Vitamin C
|
17% of the Daily Value
|
Vitamin A
|
10% of the Daily Value
|
Potassium
|
8% of the Daily Value
|
Niacin
|
6% of the Daily Value
|
Vitamin E
|
5% of the Daily Value
|
Vitamin K
|
5% of the Daily Value
|
Manganese
|
5% of the Daily Value
|
Copper
|
5% of the Daily |
In addition, peaches are also rich in many
health-promoting substances and antioxidants, such as caffeic acid, polyphenols, lutein, zeaxanthin, and bioflavonoids.
White peach versus yellow peach
In terms of appearance, there are two types of peaches: white and yellow. White peaches taste similar to yellow peaches. However, white peaches have slightly less acidity and are slightly sweeter. Peaches with yellow flesh have skin that is somewhat pink in color. White peaches have a shorter lifespan since they are softer than yellow peaches.
White peaches may have a few extra chemicals compared to yellow peaches. For example, a study that investigated white and yellow peaches found that white peaches had an abundance of five chemicals that contributed to the peach aroma. When compared to peaches with yellow flesh, the researchers discovered that these chemicals were much more abundant in white-fleshed peaches.
Health benefits of Peaches
Peaches have several health benefits, including
their role in preventing heart disease, stroke, allergy, and intoxication. They
also help improve vision and reduce the rapid growth and spreading of tumors. Let's
see their role in disease prevention or enhancing body functions.
May
prevent heart disorders and stroke
They are free of
sodium and cholesterol, have a high potassium content, and have little fat. Peaches
are also rich in vitamin C and numerous other antioxidants that may help stave
off cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The riper and fresher they are, the more
antioxidants they have (2).
Numerous
studies reported the healing effect of peaches differently; their healing and
disease prevention mechanism was different from each other. For instance,
research on animals and test tubes has revealed that peaches may lower
"bad" LDL cholesterol levels, preventing excessive blood pressure and
high triglyceride levels (3, 4, 5).
Similarly, previous investigations using animal models discovered that peach
juice might reduce levels of the hormone angiotensin II, which raises blood
pressure (6,7).
May Reduce
Allergy Symptoms
Peaches are good for people who experience various kinds of allergies. Peaches may reduce allergy symptoms. One mechanism that peaches may play in controlling or lowering allergies may be preventing the release of histamines.
Histamines are chemicals that are a part of our immune system. They trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, or coughing. They help our body get rid of something that's bothering us.
Histamines start the process that hustles those allergens out of our body or off our skin. They can make us sneeze, tear up, or itch -- whatever it takes to get the job done. Research shows that peaches may help reduce allergy symptoms by preventing the release of histamines in the blood (8).
May
protect us from certain toxins
Peaches may protect us
from certain toxins and harmful substances. They help to get rid of them. In
one study, peach extracts given to smokers increased the removal of nicotine
through the urine (9).
Having
a fast antioxidant activity
Peaches
are rich in antioxidants. They have dozens of antioxidants that help to protect
us from life-threatening diseases by fighting against harmful free radicles.
Some are very fast in action and have high fast scavenging activity. For
example, in one study, juice from fresh peaches demonstrated antioxidant
actions in healthy men within 30 minutes of consumption (10).
Peaches may protect us from cancer and cancer-causing pathogens like aflatoxin. Caffeic acid is a polyphenolic antioxidant found in high levels in peaches (11). It protects the body from the dangerous carcinogenic mold aflatoxin often found in certain types of food like peanuts, corn, and peanut butter. More than any other antioxidant tested, caffeic acid destroyed the production of aflatoxin, reducing it by 95 percent (12).
Caffeic acid can also inhibit a type of tumor, fibrocarcinoma, that grows in fibrous connective tissue (13). Considering the large shreds of evidence linking aflatoxin with cancer and the vital role of caffeic acid against cancers, we have a solid reason to eat peaches regularly.
Peaches
also contain many other polyphenols, which have been proved to inhibit and
control various cancers. According to a 2014 study by researchers at Texas
A&M, polyphenols in peaches successfully inhibited the growth and
metastasis (spreading to other organs) of at least one strain of breast cancer
cells. They recommend breast cancer patients eat two to three peaches m a day
to experience the same cancer-protective effects (14)
Another
study by the same university found that these polyphenols slow breast cancer
growth and kill those same cancer cells without causing any healthy cells to
die (15).
May improve your vision
The lutein and zeaxanthin in peaches help
protect the retina and lens. The two carotenoids have been shown to reduce the
risk of two common eye disorders—macular degeneration and cataracts (16).
The vitamin A in peaches also helps
support healthy vision. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a condition called
xerophthalmia, which can damage normal vision and result in night
blindness (17).
Good for digestion and gut health
They are also loaded with soluble and insoluble fibers,
improving satiety and contributing to good digestion and gut health. These
fibers are also food for healthy microflora in our intestines.
May improve Skin health
Peaches have beta carotene and vitamin C,
which support healthy skin. Beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, helps
protect skin from sun damage, warms skin tone, and helps create a natural glow.
Vitamin C is needed to build collagen and improve skin elasticity. Peaches also
hydrate, as over 85% of a fresh peach is water (18).
May
protect you from other diseases such
as Cardiovascular disease, Hepatitis, and Hemorrhoids
Peaches are rich in bioflavonoids — flavonoids, also called vitamin P. Bioflavonoids are a natural way to prevent and heal unpleasant hemorrhoids. Up to 75 percent of people experience hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Hemorrhoids are caused by an increase in pressure on the veins of the anus and rectum. They can be highly uncomfortable or even painful.
Studies have shown that bioflavonoids can improve microcirculation, capillary flow and vascular tone, all of which are key in the natural treatment of hemorrhoids. Bioflavonoid consumption can help you avoid the lengthy and possibly expensive complications of hemorrhoids (19).
Several prospective cohort studies conducted in Europe and the U.S. have examined the relationship between some measures of dietary flavonoid intake and cardiovascular disease.
A recent meta-analysis of 14 prospective studies published between 1996 and 2012 reported that higher intakes in each flavonoid subclass were significantly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular issues as peaches are a good source of flavonoids, they may keep you healthy and protect you from cardiovascular problems (20).
The Peaches' flavonoids may likewise play a role in safeguarding you from hepatitis because flavonoids have been reported in some studies to help people suffering from acute viral hepatitis as well as chronic hepatitis (21).
Peach juice/
peach milkshake, its extra health benefits
Peaches can be consumed in other forms like peach juice and peach milkshake. People can easily avoid peaches' sour/acidic test using peach juice or peach milkshake. Peach juice can easily be prepared by adding water and little sugar to slices of peaches first, then grinding and mixing them together through a home juicer.
Fresh peach juice may be tastier but equally nutritional to those prepared from canned peaches because a study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in 2012 found that canned peaches were just as healthy as fresh peaches.
Peach milkshake is another option that further increases the taste and nutrition of peach and peach juice. Add little milk to the ingredients of peach juice (already mentioned) and make peaches healthier and tastier. The calcium and extra amount of vitamin A from milk make peaches more super nutritional and healthy.
White Grape Peach juice
People also like grapes, especially white grapes and peaches
together. They make their juice together and further increase the taste and
nutrition of peaches one step further. White grape peach juice is one kind of
grape peach juice that is super healthy, nutritional, and tasty. The extra
vitamin C and iron content of the grapes make peach juice more nutritious and
beneficial.
Conclusion
Peaches are a valuable source of vitamins such as vitamin A, C, E, K, and niacin; minerals like potassium, manganese, and copper; antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids. Peaches also appear to be linked to a lower risk of certain cancers and may boost immunity, protect against toxins, lower blood sugar levels, improve vision, and maintain healthy skin and digestion. Their high antioxidant profile may also help protect us from cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, and hemorrhoids. You can also consume peach in the form of peach juice, peach milkshake, and grape peach juice like white grape peach juice. Other fruits and ingredients increase the taste and nutrition of peach and make it super healthy.
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