You may have already seen or tried peach before. But do you know what does it do to you and your health as a whole? Well, actually, peaches are rich in various essential vitamins and minerals, which are all essential for the overall health. Furthermore, these nutrients are also what make up all the necessary health benefits of peaches. As a matter of fact, it is beneficial in providing relief for neurodegenerative diseases, blood stasis, cholesterol, obesity, cancer, and hypokalemia. It also helps in the skin and eye care, the maintenance of the teeth, bones, and healthy nervous system, among others. Give this article a read and get to learn more interesting facts about it.
Peach: What it this?
In Latin, they call peaches as Prunus persica. Peaches are actually versatile, juicy summer fruits, which are native to the South Asia and China. Furthermore, peaches are a product of the deciduous trees, which grow in the temperate regions of the world. Basically, it belongs to the Rosacea plant family, which also includes the cherries and the plums.
Dissimilar to the nectarines that have a smooth outer surface, the peaches have velvety, fuzzy skin. Furthermore, they also have a subtle aroma, and a yellowish, juicy pulp. Moreover, peaches are stone fruits or drupes, as they possess an outer fleshy part, which surrounds the shell that encloses the edible seeds.
Based on your grip on the flesh that’s being rigid or free on the seed, the peaches are classified in the variety of clinging-stone wherein the pulp clings firmly into the pit, a freestone variety wherein the pulp separates from the pit easily, and a semi-freestone wherein the flesh separates out with just a little effort.
Nutritional Facts of Peach
According to the USDA National Nutrition Data, peaches are rich in a broad range of nutrients, which are important for the healthy function of the body. Furthermore, peaches are also a great source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Additionally, there is also a good source of vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin B3. Peaches also offer a great number of minerals like copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and calcium.
Refer to the table below to learn more about what’s in the peach:
| Principle | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Energy | 39 Kcal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 9.54 grams | 7% |
| Protein | 0.91 grams | 1.5% |
| Total Fat | 0.25 grams | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 0 milligrams | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.5 grams | 4% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 4 micrograms | 1% |
| Niacin | 0.806 milligrams | 5% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.153 milligrams | 3% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.025 milligrams | 2% |
| Riboflavin | 0.031 milligrams | 2.5% |
| Thiamin | 0.024 milligrams | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 326 IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 6.6 milligrams | 11% |
| Vitamin E | 0.73 milligrams | 5% |
| Vitamin K | 2.6 micrograms | 2% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 0 milligrams | 0% |
| Potassium | 190 milligrams | 4% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 6 milligrams | 0.6% |
| Copper | 0.068 milligrams | 7.5% |
| Iron | 0.25 milligrams | 3% |
| Magnesium | 9 milligrams | 2% |
| Manganese | 0.61 milligrams | 3% |
| Phosphorus | 11 milligrams | 2% |
| Zinc | 0.17 milligrams | 1.5% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ß | 162 micrograms | — |
| Crypto-xanthin-ß | 67 micrograms | — |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 91 micrograms | — |
Health Benefits of Peaches
Here are some of the most interesting health benefits of peaches:
- Helps in preventing brain disorders. Studies prove that the peach extracts are essential for the cholinergic system. This is a neurotransmitter system, which acts as a backbone for the learning and memory functions. There are some components in the peaches that avert the degeneration of the system.
- Helps in improving cellular health. There is an ample amount of iron in the peach. This is important in the formation of hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
- Helps in treating blood stasis. The peaches’ inner kernel is essential in treating blood stasis, wherein the blood becomes static and inactive. This condition may arise as a result of a long-term condition in the blood, thus resulting in dryness.
- Helps in detoxifying the body. The peaches are essential in detoxifying and cleansing the body. Not just that, they also help in assisting in the flushing out of harmful toxins from the kidney and liver.
- Helps in improving heart health. Research shows that the phenolic compound in the peel of the peaches are essential in the maintenance of the low levels of bad cholesterol and increase the levels of good cholesterol.
- Helps in preventing cancer. This is one of the best health benefits of peaches. Research shows that the rich content of carotenoid and phenolic compounds in the peaches possesses anticancer and antitumor properties.
Side Effects of Peach
There may be some side effects on the consumption of peach, they are as follows:
- Peach seeds: The excess usage of the p[each seed must be avoided because they may have some toxic effects because of the presence of the cyanide in trace levels. It’s always advisable to consult a doctor in the case of any use of medical products made from the peach seeds
- Allergic reactions: The consumption of peach may cause food allergies because of the presence of some allergens. The storage and the production of the dried peaches may involve the use of sulfite as some kind of a preservative. This may lead to an allergic reaction like asthma.
Be cautious in eating peaches. Even though there are lots of health benefits of peaches, there may also be some side effects of it that may harm the health.
