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PEACHES AND NECTARINES Benefits
A sweet juicy peach is surprisingly low in calories. A single 100 gram ripe fruit contains only 30 Calories yet provides over three-quarters of an adult’s daily vitamin C requirement. It’s soft flesh is easy to digest and has gentle laxative properties. Canning peaches in sugary syrup, however, robs them of about 80% of their vitamin C, and adds lots of calories. Dried peaches make a healthy, nutritious snack as they provide useful amounts of iron, potassium and beta carotene, the plant form of vitamin A. They also offer a concentrated source of energy. Weight for weight, dried peaches contain six times the calories of fresh peaches. The word nectarine derives from the Greek nektar, meaning the drink of the gods in Greek mythology. Originally cultivated from peaches, nectarines are sweeter and more nutritious: one fresh, average sized nectarine supplies 40 Calories and nearly all an adult’s daily requirement of vitamin C. Unlike peaches, nectarines do not continue to ripen once picked, so only buy fruits that are already soft. |