Health Benefits and Uses of Peaches
Peaches — or Prunus persica — are small fruit with a fuzzy peel and a sweet white or yellow flesh.
They’re thought to have originated in China more than 8,000 years ago.
Peaches are related to plums, apricots, cherries, and almonds. They’re considered drupes or stone fruit because their flesh surrounds a shell that houses an edible seed.
They can be eaten on their own or added to a variety of dishes. What’s more, peaches are nutritious and may offer an array of health benefits, including improved digestion, smoother skin, and allergy relief.
Why are peaches useful
1. Packed With Nutrients and Antioxidants
Peaches are rich in many vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds.
Peach contains:
- Protein;
- Carbs;
- Fiber;
- Vitamin C;
- Vitamin A;
- Potassium;
- Niacin;
- Vitamin E;
- Vitamin K;
- Copper;
- Manganese.
Peaches also amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and some B vitamins.
In addition, they’re packed with antioxidants — beneficial plant compounds that combat oxidative damage and help protect body against aging and disease.Fresh peaches have higher levels of antioxidants and be more effective at protecting against oxidative damage than canned ones.
2. Aid Digestion
Peaches contribute to healthy digestion.
One medium-sized fruit provides about 2 grams of fiber — half of which is soluble fiber, while the other half is insoluble.
Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and helps move food through your gut, reducing the likelihood of constipation.
On the other hand, soluble fiber provides food for beneficial bacteria in your intestines. In turn, these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids — such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate — which feed the cells gut.
Short-chain fatty acids in your gut may also help reduce inflammation and improve symptoms of digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis.
Peach flowers are another part of the fruit that may benefit digestion. They’re commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive disorders.
3. Heart Health
Regularly eating fruit — including peaches — may promote heart health. Peaches lower risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The bound bile acids — together with the cholesterol they contain — are eventually excreted through your feces, which may help lower blood cholesterol levels.
4. Skin
Peaches may have protective effects that help keep skin healthy.
Compounds found in peaches may improve skin’s ability to retain moisture — thus improving skin texture.
Extracts made from peach flowers or flesh applied directly to the skin may help prevent UV damage.
5. May Prevent Certain Types of Cancer
Peach skin and flesh are rich in carotenoids and caffeic acid — two types of antioxidants found to have anticancer properties.
Peaches are full of polyphenols — a category of antioxidants and limit of cancer cells. Peach polyphenols may have the ability to kill cancerous cells as well, without causing any damage to healthy ones.
6. May Reduce Allergy Symptoms
When body is exposed to an allergen, it releases histamines, or chemicals made by immune system to help rid body of the allergen.
Histamines are part of body’s defense system and trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, or coughing.
Peaches, by preventing the release of histomines with the help of the compounds of vitamins A and E, relieves allergy symptoms and facilitates its tolerance.
Other Potential Benefits
Peaches may offer several other health benefits. The most well-researched include:
1. May boost immunity: Peaches are rich in immune-boosting nutrients and antioxidants.
2. May protect against certain toxins: In one study, peach extracts given to smokers increased the removal of nicotine through the urine.
3. May reduce blood sugar levels: Studies show that compounds found in peaches may help prevent high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.