This Week: Peaches!

Peaches are stone fruits with a fuzzy peel and sweet white or yellow flesh. They are related to plums, apricots, cherries and almonds. They can be eaten on their own or added to a variety of dishes.
 
Peaches contain a variety of great minerals and vitamins, including fibre, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Niacin and Copper, as well as smaller amounts of Magnesium, phosphorus, iron and some B Vitamins. They also contain large amounts of antioxidants, which combat oxidative damage and help protect your body against aging and disease. Fresher and riper peaches contain more antioxidants then under or over ripe ones.
 
Peaches contribute to digestion with their fibre, which is roughly half soluble and half non soluble. Insoluble adds bulk to your stool, helping food move through your digestive system and reducing the likelihood of constipation. The soluble fibre provides food for the bacteria in your intestines, which helps them produce short chain fatty acids. These in turn help to reduce inflammation, and improve symptoms of digestive disorders such as Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis. The flowers of the peach tree are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive disorders.
 
The antioxidants found in peaches (especially the Vitamin C) seek and destroy the free radicals in the body, which result from oxidation in the body. Left unchecked these can lead to heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases. Vitamin C also boosts immunity and cell repair, which helps with wound healing and anti-aging effects. The vitamin A in peaches, as well as the carotenoids, help to boost regular vision and immune health.
 
Research has shown that the bioactive compounds found in peaches, plums and nectarines may inhibit obesity related diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. They have also found that the combination of antioxidants in these fruits work together to help reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol, obesity and inflammation related to metabolic syndrome.
 
Detriments: As always there is a possibility of allergies to these fruits, especially for people with birch pollen allergies. The symptoms can be an itchy mouth or throat, or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your GP. Also, the fructose in peaches make them unsuitable for people on a low FODMAP diet.