How the Peach Can be Used for Your Health
In Chinese the peach is called the longevity fruit. There are many nutritional benefits from incorporating peaches into your diet. One raw medium peach has 50 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol and sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of sugar, 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Peaches are a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. One medium peach also contains 2% or more daily value of vitamins E and K, niacin, folate, iron, choline, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) function of the Peach
The flavors of the Peach are categorized as sweet and sour with an energetic temperature of warm. From a TCM perspective, these flavors enter the stomach and large intestine meridians. Peach can be used to revitalize the intestines, promote blood circulation and nourish the skin.
Regularly eating the peach may assist with chronic bronchitis and chronic cough. Peach can help with symptoms such as dry cough, chronic fever and night sweats. It can be used to nourish yin, tonify Qi and invigorate the lungs.
Peach can also be used when recovering from an illness. A person recovering from an illness may be considered qi and blood deficient with symptoms such as a yellow face, muscle weakness, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Peach can replenish Qi and blood, nourish Yin and the body fluids.
Peach has an anticoagulant property so it may help with bleeding disorders such as regulating menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and easy bruising.
Contraindication of Peach
People who usually feel warm or hot should avoid eating the peach due to the peach's warm energetic temperature.
People with weak gastrointestinal function should avoid peach because it will increase the burden on the stomach.
Immature peaches may cause bloating.
People with diabetes or high blood sugar should eat with moderation due to the fructose content.
EASY PEACH RECIPES FOR HEALTH
Peach Yogurt to Relieve Constipation
Ingredients: 2 pieces of hard meat peaches and unsweetened yogurt
Practice: Wash and brush the skins of 2 hard meat peaches. Place the peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds or until the skin can easily be removed. Remove the skin and cut the peaches in 8 pieces and mix it with unsweetened yogurt.
Stewed Fresh Peach for Chronic Cough
Practice: Steam 3 fresh peaches and peel off the skin, add a pinch of rock sugar to taste Eat once per day to assist with chronic cough.
Nutritional breakdown of peaches (by Karen Ensle Ed.D., RDN, FAND, CFCS)