Peach, properties of peach

Fruits help us hydrate and also provide us with nutrients that are very important for our health. The peach provides us with different health benefits. In addition, it provides us with nutritional benefits that help us to have radiant skin thanks to its antioxidant power.

What is the peach?

The peach or peach is a fruit of the peach tree (Prunus persica), a tree of the Rosaceae family. The name of the tree comes from the Latin malus cotonus which means cottony apple , referring to its characteristic skin.

The fruit of the peach tree is round in shape, its skin is velvety, the pulp is whitish or yellowish in color, very juicy and with a very characteristic aroma. Inside it is its seed or bone that is covered with a hard shell.

What kind of fruit is the peach?

The peach is categorized as a semi-acid fruit like the strawberry or the mango. Unlike the peach, the apricot, although it is assimilated in color and shape, is smaller, its outer part is smooth and smooth, and it is classified as a sweet fruit.

What is the difference between peach and peach?

The peach tree is also known as a peach tree and its fruits as a peach tree in some parts of the Canary Islands and Latin America.

Although many believe that they are different fruits, in reality it is the same , with the particularity that it is known differently depending on the country of origin.

Origin of the peach

There is written data that the peach comes from China where there are references that it was cultivated more than 3000 years ago.

Later, the cultivation of these fruits moved to regions of the Middle East, more specifically to areas of Iran and Afghanistan. This region was known as Persia (hence its scientific name Prunus persica ). Later, peach cultivation was moved from Persia to Europe by the Romans.

During the Middle Ages its cultivation spread throughout the continent and, in the 19th century, the peach tree can already be considered as a growing crop thanks to being one of the best valued foods at the time.

In the Middle Ages its cultivation spread throughout the European continent.

In China, the peach tree is considered the tree of life. The Chinese highly esteem the peach tree and associate it with immortality. These fruits appear recurrently in poetry and in various artistic expressions as a symbol of longevity.

In the Iberian Peninsula it was introduced by the Romans.

Currently, the main peach producing countries are China, Italy, the US, Spain, Greece and France.

How do you eat the peach?

The peach is a seasonal fruit that we can find in our markets between spring and autumn, depending on the variety.

As we always recommend, the fruit is best eaten fresh and sour. The peach is a stone fruit that has a pulp with a delicious flavor very similar to nectarine or Paraguayan. We recommend that it is always well washed so that it can be eaten with the skin on. On the contrary, with some varieties with thick skin, it is somewhat unpleasant so it is recommended to peel it.

Juices and jams

This fruit is widely used in the food industry. One of the star fruits in making fruit smoothies and packaged jam recipes. We also find it canned in syrup and in fruit salads. It is common to find peaches as an ingredient in different dessert recipes such as peach cheesecake.

Although it is not very frequent, it is increasingly included in different savory recipes that adds a very particular touch to the dish. In addition to flavor, it provides recipes with nutritional properties that provide it with different benefits.

Peach dried apricots

As with the apricot, this fruit is eaten dried and is known as dried apricots. It is more caloric than fresh fruit and has slightly less nutrients. It also provides us with nutrients with nutritional properties very similar to the curd fruit. In addition, it is a way to consume this breath throughout the year.

Peach season

We can say that the peach harvest season in Spain begins in May and ends in September. In this period is the peak of the season for these fruits. However, exempt earlier and later varieties. Therefore, the season can be extended from April to September. 

You can check the calendar of the  fruit season  to be able to consume these foods at their most optimal moment. In addition, when they are in season they provide us with  more benefits for our health, they have a better aroma and are tastier , among other advantages.

How are peaches classified?

There are different classifications of peaches. In this article I explain the most common and it is the following:

Yellow pulp

This type of peach has the most yellowish flesh and falls off the pit easily like apricots .

The best known varieties are: Springcrest, Flordastar, Queencrest, Maycrest, Spring Lady, Spring Belle, Rich Lady and Rich May.

White pulp

Which include the European-type varieties and the American-type varieties.

• The European variety is characterized by having a not very intense reddish coloration and its background is white, it has little reddish coloration and its background is greenish-white.
• The American variety is very showy due to its pink color. The best known are the following: Alexandra, Spring White, Starlite, Maravilha and Tropic Snow.

Pavia type

This type of peach has the hardest pulp and this time it is very close to the bone. The best known varieties are: An-dross, Catherina, Everts, Suney, Tirrenia, Ionia, Babygold and Sudanell.

Peaches properties

Peaches are characteristic for having a high fiber content in addition to their great contribution of water. It does not stand out for having a large contribution of carbohydrates. 100 grams of peach provide us with only 41 calories approximately.

Like Paraguayan or nectarine, they also provide us with vitamins such as type C and portions of carotenoids such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin.

This fruit is rich in minerals such as potassium and in less amount of iodine and magnesium. It also provides iron, which makes it a good diuretic (potassium) and antianemic (iron).

In its composition they also have coumarins, natural aromatic substances.

Nutritional information per 100 grams of fresh fruit

 What are the benefits of peaches?

The peach is a familiar fruit, ideal for the consumption of all ages thanks to its contribution of vitamins and minerals. Nutrients with beneficial properties for our health.

Ideal for weight loss diets

As we have already explained, this fruit provides little amount of sugar, making it a low-calorie fruit. It is ideal to incorporate it into weight loss diets. Its moderate consumption is normally tolerated by diabetics.

Likewise, it has a satiating effect, which benefits people who carry out a diet to lose weight.

An ally against constipation

In addition, these foods are rich in fiber, which is why it is considered a laxative fruit. The amount of fiber it has helps regulate intestinal transit and improve constipation without causing harm to our health.

Reduce the cholesterol

Thanks to its fiber content, it also helps reduce cholesterol levels. It also helps us control blood sugar levels (glycemia) in people with diabetes.

Blood pressure regulator

It is a food rich in potassium and low in sodium. Thanks to these properties, it is advisable to include it in the diet of people with high blood pressure.

In the same way and like the rest of fruits with yellow or orange pulp, it is a fruit with beta-carotene or provitamin A , a powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of degenerative diseases.

Skin treatment

Thanks to their high content of beta-carotene, vitamins and other nutrients, they have antioxidant effects that are used to treat skin conditions such as wrinkles and sagging.

Finally and as we have seen in this article, the peach is another of the seasonal fruits that we cannot exclude from our diet if we want to eat a healthy diet.