health benefits of peaches

Top Health Benefits Of Peaches And Why You Should Eat Them

The Peach Fruit

The peach fruit (Prunus Persica) is a fruit native to China. This fruit has been in existence for over 8000 years. A member of the stone fruit family, the peach fruit has one large seed in the middle surrounded by a fleshy outer layer. There are two types of peaches namely freestone and clingstone.

With the freestone type, the seed can be removed from the flesh with ease but the clingstone’s seed cannot be easily removed from the flesh. 

The peach is related to plums, apricots, cherries, and almonds. It can be eaten fresh or added to dishes. Along with being a visually appealing fruit, it is highly nutritious and has a lot of health benefits. Some of these health benefits include smoother skin, allergy relief and it can improve your digestion. Below are some of the health benefits of peaches and why you should eat them.

Health Benefits of Peaches

Packed with a lot of nutrients

The peach fruit is packed with many nutrients which we all know are very important to the human body. Nutrients help the human body function effectively. It is low in calories and contains a lot of vitamins and minerals too. 

One raw medium peach (147 grams) has 50 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol and sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrate, 13 grams of sugar, 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. It provides 6% of your daily vitamin A needs and 15% of daily vitamin C needs. One medium peach also contains 2% or more daily value of vitamins E and K, niacin, folate, iron, choline, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and copper.

Improves your skin

This fruit has high amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C gets rid of wrinkles and skin sagging. It also lightens the dark circles under your eyes. Studies have shown that extracts made from peach flowers or applied directly to the skin can help prevent skin damage from UV light rays.

Good for weight management

This fruit is made up of 85% water and due to its low calories content, it has no saturated fats and cholesterol. Moreover, it contains a lot of fiber which makes you feel full when you eat., thus, preventing you from overeating.  Since it is mostly made up of water, it keeps you safe from dehydration.

Supports heart health

Studies have shown that peaches have compounds with anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce bad (LDL). If the levels of bad cholesterol in the body are left unchecked, it can lead to cardiovascular disease. Also, the fruit contains potassium, which lowers the risk of heart disease.

Improves eye vision

Peaches contain an antioxidant called beta carotene which is then processed by the body into vitamin A which is important for good vision. They also contain phytonutrients (Lutein and zeaxanthin) that can protect your eyes from light-related damage and can help prevent vision loss.

Stress reliever

Peaches contain magnesium which advocates for a healthy nervous system. In addition, it improves the quality of your sleep. They are known to contain natural sedatives that help people relax. This is highly beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety and are looking for ways to relax their minds and body. Also, peaches can help insomniacs, as eating a peach before bed can help you fall asleep faster.

Reduces cancer risk

Peaches have a significant amount of vitamin C. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent the formation of free radicals which are compounds that are linked to cancer development. The polyphenol antioxidants in peaches have been shown to stunt the growth and spread of cancer cells, especially breast cancer.

One study that followed women of 24 years found that two fruits, in particular, stood out as being protective. A higher intake of berries and peaches was associated with a lower risk of estrogen receptive-negative breast cancer among postmenopausal women. 

Good for the teeth and bones

Peaches contain vitamin K which is an essential nutrient for maintaining and sustaining the structure of your teeth and bones. As we grow older, our bones and teeth weaken gradually. Eating peaches can help slow down this process by strengthening your bones and teeth.

Helps prevent diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes the blood to have too much sugar in it. This impairs blood sugar regulation in the body. This can lead to loss of weight, blurred vision, fatigue, and dry skin. Peaches are generally known for reducing glucose levels. They can both increase insulin levels as well as decrease the number of lipids in your body.

Eating peaches helps to monitor and keep in check your sugar levels.

Boosts the immune system

Peaches contain nutrients that aid in enhancing the immune system. It contains vitamin A, a nutrient that helps fight infections. Moreover, it contains vitamin C, which is responsible for making more disease-fighting white blood cells.

It also helps these white blood cells work more effectively and improves the body’s defense systems. It also contains folate, vitamins B and K which also aid in improving the body’s immunity.

Peaches are best stored in places with high humidity. They are highly perishable and so they are typically consumed or canned within two weeks of harvest. Peaches are climacteric fruits. This means that they continue to ripen after being picked from the tree.

One thing about peaches is that they are very prone to pests or insects and so great care should be taken when it comes to harvesting and storing peaches.

Here are some of the reasons why you should eat peaches.

Reasons why you should eat peaches

  1. Peaches are good for vision improvement. They contain phytonutrients (Lutein and zeaxanthin) that can protect your eyes from light-related damage and can help prevent vision loss.
  1. They help improve your skin condition. They contain Vitamin C which gets rid of wrinkles and skin sagging. It also lightens the dark circles under your eyes. 
  1. Eating peaches can improve your immune system. This gives you a better chance of fighting diseases or better yet preventing you from getting them in the first place. It contains vitamin C, which is responsible for making more disease-fighting white blood cells. 
  1. Peaches are good for regulating diabetes. Peaches are generally known for reducing glucose levels. Peaches are good for diabetic people who want to eat something sweet every once in a while.
  2. Peaches are good stress relievers. They are known to contain natural sedatives that help people relax. They also contain magnesium which promotes a healthy nervous system.

WRITTEN AND EDITED RESPECTIVELY BY:

Michael Sarfo
Content Creator at Wapomu

Michael Sarfo is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a content creator for enochkabange.com and a writer for Wapomu

Dr. Ehoneah Obed is a registered pharmacist and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has experience working in a Tertiary hospital as well as various community pharmacies. He is also a software engineer interested in healthcare technologies.

His love for helping others motivates him to create content on an array of topics mostly relating to the health of people and also software engineering content.

He is knowledgeable in digital marketing, content marketing, and a host of other skills that make him versatile enough to uplift any team he joins.

Post navigation

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Is Goji berry good for diabetics?

Christmas and Health: How To Have A Healthier Christmas

Top 12 health benefits of Mangoes and why eat them