Health Benefits of Peaches
by Alexandra Harris
Thanks to their sweet taste, refreshing smell, and culinary
versatility, peaches have become the favorite fruit of summer. While
people seem to be packing peaches into just about every meal, few realize the great health benefits of this sumptuous treat.
Peaches  |
Peaches are the largest of the stone fruits. Stone fruits include
cherries, nectarines and plums, and are aptly named because of the
single seed, or "stone", at the center of the fruit. Stone fruits are
packed with nutrition
and peaches are no exception. The fleshy fruit is full of vitamin A,
known to combat risks of heart disease and promote vision and skin
health. Peaches are also rich in vitamin C, arguably the most
well-known vitamin due to its extraordinary immune system benefits.
Peaches are a good source of dietary fiber, which helps to regulate the
digestive system, clean the intestines, and combat cancer. Peaches also
contain antioxidants, molecules that slow and prevent the production of
free radicals in the body (which cause cell damage).
Consumers will be pleasantly surprised by the large amounts of Iron
and Potassium found in peaches. Iron is a chemical element necessary
for all living organisms, and is essential to the body's metabolism.
Iron is also a component required in the production of
neurotransmitters, such as Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Serotonin, that
relay signals in the brain. Not to be overshadowed, Potassium, also a
chemical element, is essential to the body's health. Potassium is know
to reduce the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and stroke, as
well as being an important component of muscle composition and strength.
Despite being packed with vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, Iron and
Potassium, peaches are a relatively low-carbohydrate snack. Since
peaches are primarily made up of water, each fruit only contains about
60 calories (of course this number may vary depending on the size).
This makes peaches an ideal snack and diet staple for people who are trying to lose weight or manage their current weight.
Like apples and plums, the skin of a peach is the most nutritious
part of the entire fruit as it contains the highest concentration of
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The "fuzz" on the skin is due to a
dominant gene in peaches, and while the fuzzy skin can cause throat
irritation for some consumers, it isn't dangerous to eat. Choosing to
eat the skin of a peach is a personal preference and for some people,
the prickly texture is too much to stomach.
As a rule of thumb, people tend to buy peaches between May and
October as this is when the fruit is in season and at its best. There
are many varieties of peaches to try including yellow and white fleshed
peaches, and the strange-looking, but still delicious, Heirloom peach
(or Donut peach). Whether being enjoyed in a fruit salad or simply on
its own, summer isn't summer without a good peach.
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How To Pick A Peach
Few fruits are more alluring than a fuzzy, aromatic, perfectly ripe peach.
But in an age of mass production and a pick-em-while-they're-green
mentality, buying peaches can be a bit of a crapshoot. Some smell
fantastic, only to yield pithy flesh while others rot on the surface
before ever ripening in the center. To increase your chances of finding a
peachy gem, here are some tips to navigating summer's golden bounty.
1
Pick up the peach and smell it. It should smell strong a nd sweet, with a perfectly peachy scent.
2
Look at the skin. The peach should exude a golden glow. Don't
be fooled by bright red or orange peaches; though they can be tasty, a
Technicolor skin doesn't automatically equal a great peach. Beware of
peaches that are tinged green instead of golden.
3
Examine the skin for bumps, bruises and cuts. These will make it rot faster and often indicate that the peach is overripe.
4
Gently press the flesh at the top and bottom of the peach. A ripe peach should give slightly, especially near the stem.
5
Buy just one or two peaches to try. Even following these
guidelines, you can be fooled into buying a pithy peach. It's a safe bet
that peaches from the same crop are fairly similar, so you can always
go back and buy more if you've successfully chosen a beauty.
Read more: How to Pick a Peach | eHow.com |
Fresh Peach Salsa
Ingredients:
2 cups chopped, peeled fresh peaches 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion 3 Tablespoon lime juice
2 to 3 Tablespoon finely chopped, seeded fresh jalapeno pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro 1/2 tsp. sugar
In
a medium mixing bowl stir together peaches, onion, lime juice, peppers,
garlic, cilantro, and sugar. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
Makes 2 cups.
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