Powerful T Produce
he summer brings in seasonly delicious produce, such as the stone fruits—peach, plum, and cherry. All three have a pit inside, hence, the name “stone” fruit. Stone fruits tend to have thin skins that may be fuzzy or smooth. These fruits are picked at their peak and only good for a short amount of time. Once you pick or buy, you want to enjoy them as soon as you can! Peaches are packed with vitamins and numerous health benefits. One medium sized peach has 285mg of Potassium and 9.9mg of Vitamin C. Potassium helps maintain a healthy blood pressure and is needed for muscle and nerve function. Some other examples of potassium-rich fruits are prune juice, prunes, dried peaches or apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melons, orange juice, raisins, figs, and berries. By incorporating peaches into your meals, it will boost your immune system, increase nerve and muscle health, protect your vision, and increase fiber. Fiber helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, may reduce the risk of heart disease, and promotes proper bowel function, including reducing constipation. Fiber-containing foods such as fruits help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories. Whole or cut up fruits are sources of dietary fiber, but fruit juices contain little or no fiber. Sour cherries are best for pies, while sweet cherries are perfect for on-the-go snacking. Other stone fruits include nectarine, apricot, mango, olive, dates and coconuts.
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July 2020
