Top 10 Health Benefits of Peaches

Peaches are a widely popular delicious, juicy fruit. First cultivated in China, peaches are now available across the globe. Apart from being tasty, this fruit is also a rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidant and various other chemical contents.

Though this fruit contains plenty of nutrients, its health benefits are merely known to its regular eater. But once the health benefits are known, more and more people will start eating this juicy fruit on daily basis.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of peaches.

1. Protects Eye Vision

Beta-carotene is responsible for eye health and peaches contain a good amount of this antioxidant, along with vitamins A and C. Regular consumption of peaches can improve your vision health by increasing blood circulation throughout your body.

The beta-carotene also nourishes and protects the retinas in your eyes from free radical damage, as well as helping to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

2. Promotes Skin Health

Peaches area great source of vitamins A and C, which are highly essential for skin health. Vitamin A provides moisture to the skin, which improves the skin’s texture making it soft and supple. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage.

Just one large peach a day can keep your skin glowing and flawless. You can also rub peaches directly on your skin to help get rid of dark circles and wrinkles.

3. Maintains Body Weight

Peaches are fat-free and contain an average of only 68 calories. The high amount of sugar in peaches is natural and therefore does not have an adverse effect on health. If you are on a weight-loss mission, having peaches handy will help you avoid more fattening and processed snacks.

4. Prevents Cancer

Peaches are rich with antioxidants that help prevent cancerous cell growth. Peaches are known particularly for effectively protecting the body against lung, colon and oral cancers. Also, the phenolic acids, known as chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acid, in peaches appear to stop breast cancer cell lines from growing without damaging normal cells.
5. Controls High Cholesterol

Eating peaches on regular basis may help control high cholesterol and problems that lead to diabetes and heart disease. This is mainly because peaches contain phenolic compounds that prevent the oxidization of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol. Also, foods rich in beta-carotene like peaches are good for lowering the cholesterol level in the blood stream.

6. Improves Cardiovascular Health

The antioxidants in peaches benefit your heart by destroying free radicals that start chain reactions within your body and can damage or kill cells. Peaches also contain bio-active compounds that help fight metabolic syndrome, a combination of risk factors that causes inflammation, obesity and heart problems.
There are also other nutrients in peaches that promote cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol levels and increasing blood flow to the heart. Regular consumption of peaches will help protect you from heart attacks and strokes.

7. Supports Digestive Health

Eating peaches helps cleanse toxins from your colon, kidneys, stomach and liver due to its high fiber and potassium content.
The high fiber content pushes out any excess toxic waste matter from your colon, and the high amount of potassium reduces kidney-related diseases and reduces your chance of developing ulcers. Peaches are easy on the digestive system and generally will not cause stomach discomfort.

8. Controls Blood Pressure

One large peach contains a high amount of potassium and very low sodium, which can help you maintain healthy blood pressure. Potassium works with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance and in turn helps to maintain a normal blood pressure.
Peaches also contain some magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, iron and calcium, which work together to support red blood cells and promote healthy blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, eating a peach daily can help combat the problem.

9. Protects Against Anemia

For those with iron-deficiency anemia, health experts suggest increasing your dietary intake of iron-rich foods like peaches. Iron helps increase the production of hemoglobin, thereby minimizing and preventing anemia. Peaches also have a high amount of vitamin C that helps your body absorb iron better.

10. Reduces Inflammation

Peaches have excellent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Dieticians recommend that those suffering from gout or rheumatism eat peaches on a regular basis. The high vitamin A in peaches also helps treat rheumatism. Peaches also can have a diuretic or a light laxative effect that helps reduce inflammation, one of the major symptoms of gout and rheumatism.

To get the maximum health benefits from peaches, eat them raw along with the skin. Just eat one fresh peach daily as part of a healthy lifestyle diet.