Peach health benefits includes preventing hypokalemia, preventing cancer, supporting healthy eyes, promoting healthy skin, supporting healthy digestion, supporting healthy pregnancy, supporting brain function and supporting strong immunity. Other benefits includes promoting blood production, managing cholesterol and supporting weight loss.
What are Peaches?
Peaches are juicy and delicious fruits, native to South Asia and China. They belong to the same family as plums and cherries. The Chinese associate peaches with long-life and immortality. China is one of the largest exporters and producers of peach.
Peaches have a velvety-fuzz covered skin and have a sweet to sour taste. The pulp of this fruit clings to the stone or seed; there are two varieties of peaches with respect to this property, the semi-clinging, and fully-clinging one. For the semi-clinging ones, the pulp separates easily from the stone whereas, for the full clinging ones the stones are slightly harder to separate from the pulp.
11 Amazing Health Benefits of Peach
1. Hypokalemia Prevention
Lack of potassium in the body can lead to Hypokalemia, which causes irregular heartbeat and weak muscles. Peaches are high in potassium, which helps the body perform vital functions such as nerve signaling and maintaining healthy metabolic function. The potassium from the peaches helps the body in utilizing carbohydrates for energy, regulating muscular tissue and maintaining electrolyte balance.
2. Cancer Prevention
One of the most chronic diseases known to mankind is cancer and prevention is key. Eating healthy and making sure that the foods you are consuming fight off the effect of free radicals are necessary. Peaches are rich in phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, which are anti-tumor and also prevent DNA damage caused by free radicals. The antioxidants in peaches can target cancers such as breast, lung, and colon. It is also rich in beta-carotene, which helps prevent lung cancer and respiratory disorders.
3. Healthy Eyes
Poor eyesight is often associated with age; however, this is not always the case. Eyesight can weaken due to the deficiency of vitamins, minerals, and biochemicals in the body. Peaches are rich in carotenoids and beta carotenes that protect the eyes, especially the retina from getting affected by diseases such as xerophthalmia. Studies have linked the lutein and zeaxanthin found in peaches to reduced risk of nuclear cataracts. Zeaxanthin also helps slow down the macular degeneration process in the eye that occurs due to age. Peaches have biochemicals, which protect the tissues in the eye from both external and internal damage.
4. Healthy Skin
A healthy glowing skin is often the result of a healthy and balanced diet. Peaches are effective in treating skin issues both externally and internally. The high amount of vitamin C found in peaches ensures the skin is protected from oxidative stress and also prevents the loss of collagen in the skin, promoting cell regeneration. It also provides protection from ultraviolet rays. UV-B radiation can cause severe damage to skin and the antioxidants found in peaches protect the skin from sun damage. The flavonoids in peaches protect the skin from erythema.
5. Healthy Digestion
Peaches have been linked with fighting of colon cancer and preventing any digestive disorders. Digestion is the core function that our body performs in order for us to survive and fight off diseases. Peaches have a high fiber content, which protects the gut from health complications such as diarrhea, hemorrhoids, ulcers and gastrointestinal disorders. It also ensures a healthy and regular bowel movement to keep the metabolic rate of the body high. A good digestive system ensures your body is absorbing nutrients properly from the food you intake. Peaches are a great way of adding fiber to your diet.
6. A Healthy Pregnancy
Avoiding all sorts of processed food is a good way of ensuring you are putting the right nutrients in your body. This is especially true when you talk about pregnancy and diet, you need to eat foods that are high in dietary fiber, and must contain iron and folate. Peaches are an ideal snack for expecting women; during pregnancy the immune system is often weak and the vitamin C content in peaches helps strengthen the defenses of the body. The folate present in peaches ensures an adequate absorption of iron from the food you eat and also prevents neural tube disorders in the baby.
7. Blood Stains
If you have been suffering from a blood deficiency for a long time, or have recently given birth or undergone a surgery you are susceptible to blood stains, which is a condition that inhibits blood circulation, gradually dying your blood. This is life-threatening; peaches are an excellent diet for these conditions. Try to add peaches to your diet the moment you realize you have a blood deficiency or undergo a surgery. Eating 2-3 peaches a day along with other vegetables and fruits that are high in iron, folate, and fiber is an excellent way of recovering naturally.
8. Healthy Brain Function
Our body relies on the brain to perform even the most common functions, like sleeping or eating. Without a healthy functioning brain, it is difficult for the organs to receive proper messages through the nervous system. Peaches have proven effects on the central cholinergic system and help improve brain function tremendously. Children under the age of five should eat peaches regularly to help with cognitive growth and development.
9. Strong Immunity
Immunity is the body’s army against germs, diseases, infections and free radicals. A healthy immunity will ensure a healthy metabolism, which is necessary for effective muscular functionality. The ascorbic acid and zinc in peaches help the body maintain a strong and healthy immune system. Vitamin C helps combat seasonal viruses and infections that generally weaken your immunity. Peaches also slow down the process of cellular degeneration as it contains vitamin C, zinc, and magnesium.
10. Cholesterol Management
Peach do not contain any cholesterol and are an overall healthy fruit; they are also very effective in dealing with cholesterol spikes in the blood and also prevent excessive cholesterol. Cholesterol is often the reason for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, blood pressure, and diabetes. Peaches, being rich in fiber, help scrape excess cholesterol from your arteries, providing a spacious pathway for the flow of blood and oxygenation. Clogged arteries are extremely harmful to heart health.
11. Weight Loss
Obesity is the cause of many diseases and bad eating habits often lead to an unhealthy weight, which is detrimental to your health. A bad diet will lead to storing excessive fat in the body, which subsequently lowers the metabolic process. This prevents adequate nutrient absorption and you end up feeling sick and lethargic. Peaches are rich in dietary fiber, which helps the body stay fuller for longer and the great taste is sure to satisfy any cravings that you may have. A peach smoothie also makes an excellent post-workout snack.
In a Nutshell
Eating right will help you negate many disorders and diseases that are related to poor digestion, unhealthy diet, and other deficiencies. Peach is one of the topmost nutrient-rich foods out there.
