Peach and nectarine trees are from the Rosaceae family, producing the popular fruits from June to September in the summer. Peach trees, which are native to East Asia and China, can grow up to 3-5 meters tall.
Its numerous leaves covering the tree have 2-5 pieces of balosus gland on the stem, are green in color and arrowhead-shaped with serrated edges. Its pink flowers, which bloom early in spring and before the leaves, resemble wild roses. There are many varieties of peach fruits (64 varieties in Turkey) that ripen from June to September depending on the variety.
The fruit is yellow, cream or purple-red on green, finely hairy and thin-skinned. The flesh is white, red (with blood-like spots) or yellow, juicy, sweet and fragrant. The flesh of the fruit is attached to the large and hard seed in the middle (meat peach) or separate from the seed (cracked peach). Peach is consumed fresh or frozen in the deep freezer, as well as made into fruit juice, syrup, ice cream, jam, marmalade and compote. It is also used in pastry making.
Nectarine is a type of hairless peach that has been obtained from the peach by human hands as a result of various natural changes (mutations). There are 13 varieties. Today, it is consumed fresh and preferred.
NUTRITIONAL VALUES
The important nutritional values contained in 100 g. fresh peaches can be listed as follows: 38 calories; 0.6 g. protein; 9.7 g. carbohydrates; 0 cholesterol; 0.1 g. fat; 0.6 g. fiber; 19 mg. phosphorus; 9 mg. calcium; 0.5 g. iron; 1 mg. sodium; 202 mg. potassium: 10 mg. magnesium; 1,330 IU vitamin A; 0.02 mg. vitamin B1; 0.05 vitamin B2; 1 mg. vitamin B3; 0.024 mg. vitamin B6; 2.3 mcgr. folic acid and 28 mg. vitamin C. The vitamin A content of white-fleshed peaches is low.
The important nutritional values contained in 100 gr. nectarine are as follows: 46 calories; 11.4 carbohydrates; 0 cholesterol; l gr. fiber; 22 mg. phosphorus; 3.6 mg. calcium; 0.42 mg. iron; 8.4 mg. sodium; 247 mg. potassium: 11.6 mg. magnesium; 1,650 IU vitamin A; 0.02 mg. vitamin B6; 20.1 mcgr. folic acid and 23.1 mg. vitamin C.
BENEFITS TO OUR HEALTH
In addition to the important nutritional values listed above;
Peach flowers and leaves have softening (slightly mushy) and slightly soothing effects: To achieve these effects, the tender leaves and flowers of the peach tree are taken, mixed and chopped. 3-4 teaspoons of this mixture are taken, a glass of boiling water is poured over it and infused for 10-15 minutes. 2-3 glasses of the resulting infusion are drunk per day.
Since some nutritional values of nectarines are higher than peaches, they are recommended to be consumed by people who are on a strengthening diet and by children during the recovery period after an illness.
It is claimed that peaches (and nectarines) have aphrodisiac effects: For this reason, it is recommended to eat plenty of these fruits on an empty stomach in the morning.
