The peach tree, a tree in the Rosaceae family, comes from China, where It was an emblem of the tree of life and its fruits a symbol of longevity. The Chinese god of immortality and wealth, Zhongli Quan, is often depicted with a peach in his hand.
From China the peach tree spread to Europe through the campaigns of Alexander the Great, who brought it from Persia, where it had arrived through the silk road. For a long time it was believed that, in fact, it was a native of Persia, which was reflected in its botanical name: Prunus persica.
In Europe the peach tree develops especially well, especially in lands such as Aragón, Lérida or Murcia. The harvested fruits reach maximum levels of flavor and sweetness in these areas.
Peach Properties
The strong points of the peach are its content in beta-carotene (provitamin A) and vitamins C and E, of which it provides significant quantities (300 g, two pieces, cover 23% of the daily need for vitamin A, 50% of vitamin C and 15% of vitamin E)
As for minerals, it provides potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron, which make it a good diuretic (potassium) and antianemic (iron).
Its fiber (2%), most of it soluble, helps keep cholesterol levels low and exerts a laxative power; while the presence of group B vitamins makes it a good calmer for the nervous system.
The water content of the peach is very high, it is around 87% of its weight. And its fats, practically zero. These two circumstances, a lot of water and little fat, explain its low caloric value, which provides between 35 and 45 calories per 100 g.
Sugars (carbohydrates), around 9%, are its most important nutrient from a quantitative point of view and are responsible for its sweetness.
As with all fresh fruits, the protein value of peaches is low at 0.7%.
Health benefits of peach
The combination of nutrients concentrated in the pulp and skin of the peach gives this delicious fruit valuable digestive, diuretic and antioxidant properties.
Improves digestion
The peach provides, along with its abundant water, a good dose of fiber that is beneficial for intestinal flora and of great value in chronic constipation.
But, also, stimulates the production of gastric secretions (indicated in case of dyspepsia and to prevent the appearance of ulcers), it whets the appetite and helps to drain the liver and bile ducts.
It is diuretic
By promoting diuresis at the kidney level, peaches are advisable in high blood pressure. It has a favorable action on kidney inflammation, hematuria (presence of blood in urine) and urinary lithiasis (helps eliminate stones).
Great ally of sight
The presence of carotenes and lutein It promotes eye health, especially the retina, as it helps prevent the formation of cataracts. Its deficiency can manifest itself with the so-called «night blindness», a decrease in visual acuity when sunlight decreases at twilight.
To lose weight
Due to its low calorie intake and its potassium content, which helps eliminate excess fluids from the body, It is a very suitable fruit in weight loss diets.
Protective and rejuvenating antioxidant action
Both selenium and zinc, the vitamins they contain and an antioxidant substance called chlorogenic acid make peaches a protector against degenerative diseases such as cancer, especially colon, prostate and lung cancer.
Uses in the kitchen
Peaches are a seasonal fruit, since they last a short time once picked. They must be consumed fresh and when they are ripe, which normally occurs between spring and autumn, depending on the variety.
The preserved in syrup They are nutritious, but they lose vitamins and minerals, in addition to having a higher percentage of calories.
Their delicate pulp and their richness in vitamins and enzymes make them ideal to eat raw. The best is choose them ecological to be able to benefit from the properties that are hidden in their skin and not peel them off.
They allow you to prepare salads with all kinds of green ingredients, enriched in proteins with tofu. They are also ideal for fruit salads.
Another very tasty way to eat this fruit is in the form of dried apricots, peeled, cut and dried at temperatures of between 65 and 70 ºC, maximum. Dried apricots are ideal in compotes, jams and chutneys and in cereal-based breakfasts.
Peach varieties
Although they are popularly classified as peaches of vineyard (yellow inside and out) and water (red on the outside and white on the inside), there are dozens of varieties with very different characteristics, depending on the color of the skin, which can range from yellow to red and be velvety or smooth; the shape, globose or flat; the bone, which may be more or less attached to the meat; and the pulp, of different colors, consistencies and nuances of flavor.
In our markets you can find a dozen of the many existing varieties, but peaches from Calandalarge and orange-yellow inside and out, and those from the Tarragona region of Penedés, redder and juicier.
The nectarineswith red, smooth skin, are a variety of peach and not a hybrid. So are the flat peach and the Paraguayan peach, which are usually very sweet.