Health benefits of peach include improving quality of hair, prevents cancer and has anti-inflammatory properties, anti-oxidants, potassium. It acts as a stress reliever, ideal for weight loss, helps in digestion, boosts immunity, lowers cholesterol, prevents brain disorders, improves cellular health, maintains healthy nervous system, treats blood statis and detoxifies the body. Peach is also beneficial for eyes, heart, dental health, skin and pregnancy.
While it is a boring platitude to think of fruits as beneficial to our health, and is a fact that has been repeated far more often than anyone would care to count, there are certain fruits which have not been included in the discussion as much as one would typically expect. The peach fruit (Latin. Prunus persica) is one such instance, and perhaps the neglect that has been accrued to it in terms of its benefits to health is because of its characteristic velvety texture that is different from its near sibling, the nectarine, as well as its rich taste. It is obtained from the deciduous peach tree that is native to China, which, in fact, accounted for 58% of the world total for peach and nectarine production in 2016. However, Italy and USA are quite proficient in producing peaches as well, among some other countries. This article will enlist 21 benefits of this juicy fruit that might just turn out to be really surprising:
21 Amazing Health Benefits of Peach
Improves The Quality of Hair:
Peaches assist in combating hair loss, and contribute towards a significant increase in hair volume, if used persistently. In addition, it nourishes the scalp, and keeps it moisturized while not allowing typical dandruff problems to make an appearance, thus decreasing hair fall. Peach extracts are used in quite a few shampoos for the selfsame reason.
Prevents Cancer:
Chlorogenic acid is a major element in peach fruit, and it not only has properties that prevent the occurrence of many cancers in our body, but has also been shown to reduce high blood pressure.
Read more: 21 Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer
Anti-Inflammatory Properties:
Peaches contain traces of the element of selenium in them, which is incredibly helpful in dispensing with the development of free radicals in the body. This, in turn, prevents skin cancer, and in addition, helps in reducing other kinds of cancers as well.
Prevents Skin Cancer:
Peaches contain traces of the element of selenium in them, which is incredibly helpful in dispensing with the development of free radicals in the body. This, in turn, prevents skin cancer, and in addition, helps in reducing other kinds of cancers as well.
Contains Anti-Oxidants:
More than the fruit itself, the pulp of the peach contains a substantial amount of antioxidants such as beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin that also salvages free radicals and stabilizes bodily functions.
Contains Potassium:
An important element in the human body is potassium, as it is a crucial electrolyte that facilitates muscle and nerve cells in their various functions. Critically low levels of potassium can lead to a condition known as hypokalaemia, also known as hypopotassemia syndrome. This can lead to significant muscular atrophy as well as arrhythmia, and is a serious illness. Peaches are rich in potassium, and therefore they help in maintaining correct levels of metabolism as well as regulate muscles, therefore preventing atrophy, leading to a reduction in the risk of these afflictions.
Stress Reliever:
Peaches are known to give relief from stretch. In fact, in Hungary, peach is known as the ‘Fruit of Calmness’. It is a lovely name for a lovely fruit, right?
Read more: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- Symptoms and Treatment
Ideal For Weight Loss:
Peaches contain few calories compared to other fruits with high sugar and high calorific value. Therefore, they are ideal for those people, who are trying to lose weight. You can have peach mixed with other healthy fruits as a part of a fruit salad, or have a peach smoothie. In any case, it is beneficial for you and will aid you in weight loss.
Good For Your Eyes:
Peaches contain vitamin A and beta carotene in large amounts. Beta carotene is a precursor of vitamin A, so basically both these elements help with improving general eyesight and night vision, thus becoming essential for your eye health.
Good For Your Heart:
Being rich in iron and vitamin K, peaches help in keeping your heart healthy. Vitamin K prevents blood clotting, thus providing protection against several heart diseases. Iron is required for the formation of red blood cells. It keeps your blood healthy and prevents anemia which occurs due to iron deficiency. Lycopene and lutein in peaches also reduce the risk of heart disease.
Read more: Heartburn During Pregnancy
Dental Health:
Peaches also contain fluoride and small amounts of calcium, the compounds that are present in bones and teeth. Minerals like iron and fluoride prevent cavities and other dental issues. So consumption of peaches can help cure bone diseases and several dental problems.
Read more: Dental Problems and Dental Care During Pregnancy
Beneficial For Skin:
Peaches help in maintaining healthy skin owing to the presence of a good amount of vitamin C, which also provides a defense against harmful free radicals and infections. Peaches also exert protective effects on the skin against ultraviolet radiation. Studies have provided evidence that the antioxidants zeaxanthin and lutein have significant anti-inflammatory effects on the skin damage caused by UV-B radiation and they protect it from the hyperproliferation of cells. Flavonoids present in peaches have photoprotective effects and help in preventing the skin from UV-induced erythema.
Read more: Home Remedies for Itchy Skin During Pregnancy
Useful For Pregnancy:
Due to the presence of so many nutrients, peaches are extremely valuable for pregnant women. The vitamin C in peaches helps in the overall growth of the baby, as well as helps in absorption of iron, which is extremely important during this time. Peaches contain folate, which is the source of folic acid and therefore, helps the mother and the baby in many ways. Presence of fiber and potassium helps in dealing with the side effects of pregnancy.
Read more: 27 Foods Rich in Folate for Pregnant Women
Helps In Digestion:
Peaches are good for maintaining healthy digestive health due to their alkaline content and fiber. Dietary fiber in peaches absorbs water and helps in preventing stomach disorders like constipation, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, gastritis, and irregular bowel movements. It also helps in cleansing and eliminating the toxic waste from the intestines and preventing the body from contracting various abdominal disorders, including stomach cancer. Due to its laxative properties, peaches also aid in the dissolution of kidneys and bladder stones.
Read more: 15 Home Remedies to Treat Constipation During Pregnancy
Boosts Immunity:
Due to the presence of so many vitamins in the fruit, peaches help in boosting immunity to a great extent. Having peaches as an integral part of your diet might keep you safe from those occasional bouts of cough, cold or other minor diseases.
Read more: Foods that Boost Immunity
Lowers Cholesterol Level:
It is said that choosing fruits and vegetables, which are rich in soluble fiber are beneficial in lower the level of cholesterol in the human body. The fiber prevents the absorption of the bad cholesterol by the blood vessels. Therefore, peach can really help in lowering the cholesterol level.
Prevents Brain Disorders:
Peaches have large amounts of folate present in it, which work on the cholinergic system of the body. They are known to prevent brain disorders by acting on the memory and learning functions of the brain, and other crucial parts of the brain as well.
Improves Cellular Health:
The quercetin and chlorogenic acid present in peaches are found to stall cancer cell proliferation, therefore improving cellular health.
Maintains Healthy Nervous System:
Peaches have been shown to decrease neurodegenerative disorders, such as, Alzheimer’s disease. It has also been shown to decrease the risk of macular degeneration.
Treats Blood Statis:
Blood statis is a disorder, where after surgeries or certain injuries, the blood dries up or clots way too fast. The inner kernel of a peach has the property to fight against this.
Detoxifies The Body:
Yes, other than all the amazing benefits just mentioned, peaches help in detoxifying our body too, thereby making it an ideal fruit for our diet plan.
Read more: 11 Benefits of Lemon Water Detox
Then again, peaches also have some side effects. Keep this in mind that an overdose of any benefit mentioned here is detrimental to our health. For instance, too many antioxidants increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to many studies. Keeping that in mind, having peaches in moderation wouldn’t be too bad for us, considering the numerous benefits it has.
