Peach is a small fruit with a fuzzy skin and sweet white or yellow flesh. It is said to have originated in China more than 8,000 years ago. They are considered drupes or pomegranates because the flesh surrounds the shell that contains the edible seeds. Peaches can be eaten alone or incorporated into a variety of dishes. Peaches are also highly nutritious and may provide a number of health benefits, including improved digestion, improved skin, and alleviation of allergies.
Peach Benefits
1. Promote digestion
Peach promotes digestion. One medium-sized peach provides about 2 grams of fiber. Half of this is soluble fiber and the other half is insoluble. Insoluble fiber increases stool bulk and moves food through the intestines, reducing the chances of constipation. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, provides food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. In turn, these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate that nourish the gut cells.
Short-chain fatty acids in the gut may help reduce inflammation and improve symptoms of digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis. Peach blossoms are another part of the fruit that helps with digestion. They are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive disorders. Animal studies have shown that compounds found in flowers effectively increase the strength and frequency of intestinal contractions, helping to maintain the proper rhythm to gently push food. While research uses a lot of peach blossom extract, Korea consumes a lot of herbal tea made from flowers.
2. Improve your heart health
Consuming peaches on a regular basis may benefit heart health. Peaches may lower risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. What’s more, research shows that peaches can bind bile acids, a compound the liver produces from cholesterol.
The bound bile acids, along with the cholesterol they contain, are eventually excreted in the feces, which can help lower blood cholesterol levels. Additional test-tube and animal studies show that peaches may reduce total and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, as well as blood pressure and triglyceride levels. A study in obese rats reported that peach juice could lower levels of geotensin II, a hormone that raises blood pressure. Although these effects look promising, more studies are needed to confirm them in humans.
3. Skin health
Peaches may have protective effects that help keep your skin healthy. Test-tube studies have shown that compounds found in peaches can improve skin texture by improving the skin’s ability to retain moisture. What’s more, test-tube and animal studies suggest that applying peach blossom or pulp extracts directly to the skin may help prevent UV damage. Peach blossom extract was also found to delay skin tumor development in mice. 4. Prevents Certain Cancers Like most fruits, peaches provide beneficial plant compounds that can provide protection against a variety of cancers. In other words, peach skin and flesh rich in carotenoids and caffeic acid – two types of antioxidants found anti-cancer properties. Test-tube and animal studies have shown that compounds in peach seeds can limit the growth of noncancerous skin tumors and prevent them from turning into cancerous ones. Needless to say, peaches are full of polyphenols. This is a category of antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the growth of cancer cells and limit their spread in test-tube studies.
Peach polyphenols have the ability to kill cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. In one animal study, these polyphenols were particularly effective in preventing the growth or spread of certain types of breast cancer. Researchers have reported that you need to eat about two to three peaches per day to get the same amount of polyphenols used in the study. In another study, postmenopausal women who consumed at least two peaches or nectarines daily had a 41% lower risk of breast cancer and twenty-four years of cancer or more. However, few studies have been done in humans, so more studies are needed. 5. Reduce Allergy Symptoms Peach can reduce allergy symptoms. When the body is exposed to an allergen, it releases histamine or a chemical made by the immune system to help get rid of the allergen. Histamine is part of the body’s defense system and causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, or coughing. peach side effects
Studies have shown that peaches may help reduce allergy symptoms by preventing the release of histamine from the blood. In addition, test-tube studies have shown that peach extract may also be effective and may limit the inflammation commonly seen in allergic reactions. Excessive consumption of peaches may increase the risk of colon cancer in men. Peaches contain poorly absorbed fermentable sugars, which are incompletely absorbed in the small intestine. Peaches are fermented in the large intestine, releasing gas. Therefore, excessive consumption of peaches can lead to bloating.
Peaches are rich in many vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds. It is easily incorporated into a variety of dishes and can provide impressive health benefits, including skin health, reduced allergy symptoms, and improved digestive and heart health. Peaches also appear to be associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers, and may boost immunity, protect against toxins, and lower blood sugar levels. All in all, it is a fruit worth adding to your diet. This concludes the benefits and side effects of peaches. thank you
