Last week, there was a massive recall of California peaches due to concerns over salmonella poisoning. 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 poisoned.
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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 is not 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 cut-off, and nutrition in the fruits goes down.
That’s why eating local can be so healthy—you may have got 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% of the daily value for vitamin C to help protect you from colds
- 10% if the daily value for vitamin A that can help to keep your eyes healthy
- 8% of daily potassium to help your heartbeat
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Peaches are packed with a lot more vitamins and minerals, plus plenty of other 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 superfoods and support the farms in your community!
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
