Peach is a widely adored delicious juicy fruit. It is origins from China and now popular in all over the world. The health benefits of peaches are merely known to its regular eater. Peaches are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidant and other chemical contents.
This fruit looks like an apple in shape measuring about 7-10 cm in diameter and about 130g in weight. It is naturally juicy and sweet with a lovely aroma. Here are seven major nutrition and health benefits of peaches with some serving process, according to organicfacts.net.
Peaches store a broad range of nutrients that are vital for the healthy functioning of the body. Peaches are a rich provider of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). They are also a good source of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), vitamin K (phylloquinone), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B-6, folate, and pantothenic acid. Peaches also offer a rich treasure of minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorous, zinc, and copper. Peaches are low in calories, contain no saturated fat or cholesterol, and are a good source of dietary fiber, according to organicfacts.net.
Health Benefits of Peaches
Prevents Cancer
Peaches are rich with antioxidants that help prevent cancerous cell growth. Peaches are known particularly for effectively protecting the body against lung, colon and oral cancers. Also, the phenolic acids, known as chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acid, in peaches appear to stop breast cancer cell lines from growing without damaging normal cells.
Skin Care
Peaches help in maintaining healthy skin owing to the presence of a good amount of vitamin C, which also provides a defense against harmful free radicals and infections. Peaches also exert protective effects on the skin against ultraviolet radiation. Studies have provided evidence that the antioxidants zeaxanthin and lutein have significant anti-inflammatory effects on the skin damage caused by UV-B radiation and they protect the skin from the hyperproliferation of cells. Flavonoids present in peaches have photo protective effects and help in preventing the skin from UV-induced erythema.
Protects Eye Vision
Beta-carotene is responsible for eye health and peaches contain a good amount of this antioxidant, along with vitamins A and C. Regular consumption of peaches can improve your vision health by increasing blood circulation throughout your body.
The beta-carotene also nourishes and protects the retinas in your eyes from free radical damage, as well as helping to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Diabetes
Another study from Texas A&M showed that peaches and plum extracts were effective in killing even the most aggressive types of breast cancer cells and did not harm normal healthy cells in the process.
Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One medium peach provides about 2 grams of fiber.
Improves Cardiovascular Health
The antioxidants in peaches benefit your heart by destroying free radicals that start chain reactions within your body and can damage or kill cells. Peaches also contain bio-active compounds that help fight metabolic syndrome, a combination of risk factors that causes inflammation, obesity and heart problems.
Digestion
Peaches are good for maintaining healthy digestive health due to theiralkaline content and fiber. Dietary fiber in peaches absorbs water and helps in preventing stomach disorders like constipation, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, gastritis and irregular bowel movements. It also helps in cleansing and eliminating the toxic waste from the intestines and preventing the body from contracting various abdominal disorders, including stomach cancer. Due to its laxative properties, peaches also aid in the dissolution of kidneys and bladder stones.
Nervous System
The presence of magnesium in peaches helps to prevent stress and anxiety in the body and aids in keeping the nervous system calm. A deficiency of magnesium can affect the functioning of the central nervous system, resulting in hyper excited muscles and the increased activity of nerve signals. An investigative research study conducted in this regard has suggested that the intake of magnesium-rich foods along with vitamin B-6 has favorable effects in the treatment of central nervous system hyper-excitability in children. Another study has suggested that magnesium treatment helps in recovering from the symptoms of major depression. The consumption of peaches is also considered beneficial in Ayurvedic therapy for balancing the nervous system.
Anti-Aging
Peaches are a source of zinc, which has anti-aging properties. The consumption of zinc-rich foods such as peaches promotes the production of antibodies and inhibits the cellular damage caused by free radicals. It also interferes with the aging process of male reproductive organs by boosting the levels of the reproductive hormone testosterone in the body.
Healthy Bones and Teeth
Peaches contain phosphorous which, along with calcium, helps in strengthening bones and teeth and helping in the maintenance and repair of bodily tissues. It also aids in the prevention of various bone diseases like decalcification, which can lead to osteoporosis, particularly in post-menopausal women. Consumption of foods rich in phosphorus such as peaches promotes re-mineralization of bones and maintains their rigidity. Along with calcium, the vitamin C content in peaches also plays an important role in the strengthening of jaw bones and gums which helps in keeping the teeth intact.
Detoxification
Peaches are beneficial for cleansing and detoxifying the body and they assist in flushing out harmful toxins from the liver and kidneys. An investigative study has proven that peach extracts possess hepato-protectant elements and are valuable in treating the condition of hepato-toxicity caused as a result of prolonged therapy for various diseases like migraine, tuberculosis, and diabetes. Peaches are widely used in eastern cultures in the manufacturing of herbal detoxification products such as detox teas.
