Add a Few Peaches for Better Health
By Tom Herrin
Spring and summer both bring plenty of opportunities for people to liven up their diets by adding some fruits of the season. Simply using seasonal fruits can have the benefits of the availability of foods that are delicious and nutritious and often local. One of those that comes to mind for me is the peach. They come in quite a few varieties and ripen at enough different times that they can be had as fresh foods for several months out of the year, especially in the south.
They Have a Lot of Fiber
Most people need much more fiber than they take in. It can help to maintain good colon health as well as make people feel fuller. When the fiber is combined with the high water content of peaches, it is a winning combination. This can help to move food through the digestive system with more efficiency. People who take in a proper amount of fiber will usually experience far fewer problems with their digestive systems. It can sometimes simply make them feel more refreshed and energetic.
They Are a Good source of Vitamins and Other Essentials
Peaches contain plenty of vitamins. Vitamins A and C are particularly abundant. They also contain several minerals that are useful. Potassium occurs in large amounts. There are lesser amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, and calcium. Most of these play major roles in healthy blood but also help with many other things. Antioxidants are there in a good supply as well. They have a great reputation for fighting diseases including some cancers. They also can help to deter the aging process in some ways.
They Can Help with Weight Management
An average size peach may contain as few as 68 calories. That means that as a snack or dessert, you can eat two or three without blowing our diet. If you happen to be an ice cream lover, adding peaches to ice cream maintains a sweet treat but with fewer calories per volume. As a kid, I always ate them with cottage cheese or cream. Adding them to cereal can also make a healthy breakfast. As a part of a fruit salad, they can top off a meal and make it filling and satisfying. Be creative and find other ways to eat peaches while they in abundance in season, and make your meals a little healthier.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Raleigh, N.C.