Peaches: Delicious and Healthy
By Paul Rothbart
When it comes to tasty fruits, peaches rank up there with any of the best. Great in pies and cobblers, their sweet, unique flavor is refreshing to the palate. They come in varieties of white or yellow flesh and are a great snack eaten raw. Peaches can be grilled, made into sauces, and if you like the occasional spirit, peach brandy and a number of peach flavored cocktails can hit the spot. No question, this popular stone fruit is absolutely delicious. Beyond flavor, peaches are also nutritious and quite good for you. Here are some health benefits of peaches.
Loaded With Nutrition
Peaches contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. A single medium-sized peach has only 58 calories but has a gram of protein and 2 grams of fiber. It also contains significant amounts of Vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as niacin, copper, potassium, and manganese. That's quite a potent punch for a relatively small fruit. Peaches are also loaded with antioxidants, plant compounds that combat oxidative damage caused by free radicals in the body. A study showed that fresh peach juice demonstrated antioxidant actions in healthy men within 30 minutes of being consumed.
Aids Digestion
Peaches contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Both kinds are necessary for healthy digestion. Insoluble fiber helps keep food moving through your digestive system and prevents getting stuck in your gut. Soluble fiber feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut that are so vital to breaking down foods during digestion. These bacteria also produce short-chain fatty acids which help to prevent inflammation and intestinal distress. Research conducted on animals has shown that peach flowers may also be very helpful to healthy digestion.
Improve Heart Health
Regular consumption of fruit is good for heart health and peaches are an excellent choice in this regard. Peaches may lower the risk of heart disease by helping to prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Test tubes studies have shown that peaches may bind to bile acids. These compounds are created by the liver from cholesterol. The bound bile acids, along with the cholesterol, are excreted by the body and therefore don't remain in the blood where they can adversely affect heart health.
Fruits have been called nature's candy. Sweet with natural sugars, they please the palate and provide much needed nutrition. Peaches are one of the most popular fruits and one of the most healthy. Making peaches a regular part of your diet is an excellent way to contribute to good health.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Antonio, Tex.