10 Incredible Health Benefits of Peaches
Peaches are nature's chosen healthy snacks, thanks in part to the many health benefits they contain. The delicious fruits are excellent sources of iron, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and many cancer-fighting antioxidant properties. They can be eaten raw, blended with other health foods as a smoothie, or used as a main ingredient for baking such as desserts like peach cobblers and pies.
You won't believe the
numerous health benefits these magical, juicy fruits contain! They are
great for losing weight, essential for maintaining healthy blood
pressure and can even prevent cancer. You'll definitely want to include
them in your diet plan after reading about their amazing health
benefits!
10 Incredible Health Benefits of Peaches:
1) Promotes Healthy Skin
Peaches contain high
levels of vitamins A and C, which are vital for maintaining proper skin
health. Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant to fight off harmful
free radical cells, while Vitamin A moisturizes the skin. You can even
rub the fruit against your skin to get rid of wrinkles and dark circles.
2) Helps to Prevent Cancer
A peach a day can actually
help lower the risk for lung, colon and oral cancers. Peaches contain
phenolic acids, which help prevent breast cancer. The acids neutralize
the dangerous carcinogenic cell lines before they grow and spread
throughout the body.
3) Prevents Heart Disease
Peaches can significantly
decrease heart disease by killing off free radicals that can lead to
heart attacks and strokes. Peaches also help regulate a normal heart
rate and keep blood pressure in check. It's no wonder why peaches are
the chosen snack!
4) Great for Weight Loss
Peaches should be part of everyone's dietary intake. They are great sources of vitamin C, and contain only 68 calories! So skip the sugary candy bars and go for this sweet-tasting fruit instead. You can slice a peach up and add it to your oatmeal, yogurt or salads, for a very interesting taste.
5) Protects Eye Vision
Did you know that peaches
actually improve your vision? The beta-carotene found inside the
delicious fruits protect your retinas from free radical cell damage and
minimizes the risk for macular degeneration. The carotenoids help guard
against other eye diseases, such as night blindness and cataracts.
6) Controls Blood Pressure
The powerful phenolic
properties contained inside the peaches are used to fight off oxidation
and promote HDL cholesterol levels (the good guys). The high content of
beta-carotene, found in the ripe fruit, also aids in healthy blood flow
in the body. The potassium helps you maintain normal blood pressure
levels as well.
7) Protects Against Anemia
People who suffer from the
iron-deficient disease can reap the health benefits of peaches. Peaches
help increase the production of hemoglobin in the bloodstream, which
combats fatigue and drowsiness symptoms. Those two symptoms are most
commonly attributed to the disease.
Peaches help prevent
symptoms of redness, swelling and joint discomfort, since they contain
extremely high levels of anti-inflammatory components. There are a bunch
of anti-inflammatory foods we spoke about in great depth, to protect
against various bone diseases.
9) Promotes Healthy Teeth
Peaches are rich in
fluoride, which is a vital component of healthy bones and teeth.
Fluoride is also essential for the prevention of caries, and can even
spare you a painful trip to the dentist! Peaches also contain natural
sugars, which are healthier substitutes for calorie-dense junk food
products.
10) Prevents Bone Disorders
Peaches help treat joint disorders, such as rheumatism and gout,
due to the high levels of vitamin A. Peaches combined with ginger,
offers a natural soothing remedy to eliminate discomfort and aches in
the joints. Here is a recipe for an anti-inflammatory ginger peach
smoothie, which is extremely simple to prepare:
What You'll Need:
- 4 ripe peaches
- 2 cups of ripe pineapple
- 1 large piece of ginger
- 1 cup coconut water or chunks of fresh coconuts
Add all the ingredients into a blender and pulse blend for about 15-30 seconds. To your health!
Peach Trivia: Did You Know?
- The world’s largest peach cobbler is 11 feet by 5 feet, and made each year in Georgia.
- The famous Impressionist-style French artist, Renoir, had encouraged his students to improve their painting skills with the various colors and textures they saw from the fruit.
- China is the largest producer of peaches in the world, with Italy coming in a distant second place.
- The peach tree is often considered to be the tree of life.
- Peaches belong to the Rosaceae family, which actually makes them a close relative of almonds.
- Peaches have a long history of being used around the world.
- Georgia is the Peach State, but California produces about 50 percent of USA peaches.
The peach is considered a symbol of good luck, longevity, and protection, in China.
- Close relatives of almonds, peach seeds are used as an almond oil substitute in cosmetic preparations.
- August is National Peach Month in the USA, and has been since 1982.