The Power of Peaches
By Brandi Goodman
August is National Peach Month. This fruit is celebrated due to its delicious taste as well as its abundance of health benefits. Eat more peaches any way you can, whether you consume them plain as a snack, add some whipped cream and bake it for a makeshift dessert, or dice them up into a dish, and enjoy all the advantages to your health the yellow-orange fruit has to offer.
Aids in Weight Loss
Losing weight can be tough. This sentiment especially holds true when you find yourself having to completely change your diet from unhealthy yet delicious snacks to healthy options that you may not find as appetizing. A peach makes an excellent weight loss tool because you can eat it in several ways. Its sweet flavor can replace some of the cravings you have for sugary options and help you to consume far less calories than you're used to at snack time. One peach provides roughly 68 calories.
Offers Antioxidants
Antioxidants are needed to fight off toxins within the body. These can help to prevent illness and even fight cancer. Peaches provide many vitamins that act as antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Vitamin A is also present, which works to protect eyesight. Most of the antioxidants are found in the skin, so it is advised to consume a fresh peach with the skin intact rather than purchase the canned versions.
Gives Fiber
Fiber is essential to digestion. A single medium peach offers more than 2 grams of this nutrient. Add one to your daily menu to help yourself reach the recommended goal of 25 grams per day. Fiber can help to lower cholesterol levels as well and control blood sugar levels.
Provides Potassium
Potassium is found from many sources. Though many believe the banana is the primary source, many other fruits provide this nutrient as well. Peaches are among them. You can get roughly 8 percent of your recommended daily value of potassium from a single peach. You can use potassium to ease muscle cramps, lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of stroke, and even reduce your chances of your body forming kidney stones.
During National Peach Month, find as many recipes as you can to consume the fruit. Continue enjoying your favorites year-round for a boost in your health. Peaches offer lots of health benefits as long as they're consumed regularly. Enjoy!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Milpitas, Calif.