Peaches Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Ripe peaches herald the arrival of summer's joys : picnics at the beach, playing in the sun, and endless summer days. A juicy peach can bring a smile to every child. They are ideal for your summer diet.

Hydrating & Energizing

Natural water content and the sour taste makes peaches juicy. The sweetness and juiciness of peaches rehydrates and energizes after summer heat dehydrates.

Supports Healthy Digestion & Elimination

Peaches belong to the class of subsour fruits. Their sourness improves digestion while gently cleansing the liver. Peaches are so easy to digest they are often given pureed to babies. As the sourness in a peach makes the mouth juicy, it also makes the digestive tract juicy, encouraging smoother, softer stools and easy elimination. Peaches reduce coating on the tongue. Peaches are also high in fiber.

Enjoy peaches in late July & early August when late summer dries out the body, leading to insomnia and harder bowel movements.

Effect on Doshas

In general fruits are sugary and may provoke Kapha dosha - but the warm temperatures of summer keeps blood moving, offsetting any Kapha aggravation. Peaches are also slightly heating, increasing Pitta. That sticky, sweaty feeling after eating too many peaches is your cue that too many peaches under a hot sun may overstimulate your metabolism on a hot day.

Peach kernels are a common ingredient used in traditional Chinese medicine to dispel blood stasis, counter inflammation and reduce allergies. Like many orange colored foods, peaches are high in vitamin A and good for the eyes.

About Peaches

Originating from South Asia and China, today's peaches tempt weary travellers on summer highways in the South. The sight of a rough, hand-written "Peaches" sign along a hot, dusty roadside is enough to induce salivation for the soft, juicy sweet taste of summer.

Peaches seem to strike a perfect blend between sweetness and juiciness. They are luscious to look at, touch, and taste. The phrase peachy keen is a playful way to say, "Everything's perfect, just right, like a peach."

"Peaches were known as 'Persian apples' to the ancient Romans. To the ancient Chinese, peach was slang for a young bride." A pretty girl has been called 'a peach' since the Civil War, from a peaches and cream complexion'.

Buying & Preparation

Peach season lasts from May into August depending upon location. Look for perfection when choosing a ripe peach. Overripe peaches may be too soft, delicate and easily bruised. Underripe peaches are very hard and crunchy. Due to their high perish-ability, peaches are best stored at 0C (32F) and high-humidity.

Yellow-fleshed peaches are more acidic & tangy than white fleshed varieties, which are often sweeter. Peaches are further categorized into clingstones and freestones, depending on whether the flesh sticks to the seed or not. Peaches are closely related to prunes, almonds, apples and cherries. Peaches and necatrines come from the same species, but nectarines have a smooth instead of a fuzzy surface. Peaches melt quickly when cooked. Lemon juice and sugar helps bring out the flavor of a fruit.