Don’t Be Scared of Peaches

This seasonal superfruit is packed with fresh, delicious nutrients

Peaches can lower cholesterol, protect skin from UV rays, and improve digestion.Zimmytws/iStock

Last month’s massive recall of California peaches because of a salmonella outbreak was unfortunate, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying this seasonal superfruit.

Peaches are coming in season across the continent, and you’ll have the opportunity to buy fresh, local produce without much worry about being sickened.

Sometimes, it can be hard to remember that you don’t have to buy produce that’s part of the international or national supply chain. You can get local fruit and vegetables in season that are often more nutrient-dense than those that have been shipped cross-country.

Once a peach is picked, it starts losing nutrition. This isn’t exclusive to peaches, but all fruits and vegetables. Think of a fruit’s stem or root as it’s umbilical cord: it offers access to food. When it’s cut, the fruit is left to fend for itself.

Unlike humans, fruits and vegetables can’t feed themselves. The longer they are off the vine, the faster they die. The connection to nutrients is severed, and nutrition in the fruits goes down.

That’s why eating local can be so healthy—you can get the chance to eat fruit hours after it’s been picked.

Peach season means you can get these nutrient-dense delights locally for full value. And what value do they offer? Aside from all kinds of versatility—they can be eaten raw, sliced for salads, grilled, or baked in pies—they also provide:

• 2 grams of heart-healthy fiber
• 17 percent of the daily value for vitamin C to help protect you from colds
• 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin A that can help to keep your eyes healthy
• 8 percent of daily potassium to help your heartbeat

Peaches are packed with a lot more vitamins and minerals, plus plenty of valuable antioxidants to help protect your cells, limit inflammation, and promote immunity.

Some of the potential health benefits of peaches include lower cholesterol, protection from UV rays, and improved digestion.

There are plenty of superfoods coming into season in the late summer and early fall. Buy local to get nutrient-dense foods and support the farms in your community.

Mohan Garikiparithi holds a degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade. During a three-year communications program in Germany, he developed an interest in German medicine (homeopathy) and other alternative systems of medicine. This article was originally published on Bel Marra Health.