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Superfood of the day- Nectarines-the Sweet taste of Summer!

Nectarines, in essence, are peaches that lack the fuzzy skin. These smooth fruits first arose on naturally mutated branches on peach trees, which are native to China. The peach has been cultivated for thousands of years in China, since 2000 B.C., where they are a symbol of long life. Contrary to common myth, the nectarine is not the result of hybridizing a peach with a plum. Although there is no specific literature or imagery specifically of the nectarine, an educated hypothesis is that the mutant fuzzless peach did occur in peach orchards. Whether these nectarines were celebrated or destroyed is unknown; as they are edible peaches, it seems unlikely the fruits would not have been appreciated…

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Articles of Interest

A Look at Nectarines

Nectarines are often confused with peaches, but when given a second look nectarines are easy to spot because they don't have the fuzzy outside that peaches have. Nectarines are similar in taste to the peach and both exhibit a pit on the inside. A clingstone does just that: the flesh clings to the stone-like pit, while a freestone separates easily from the pit.

Afternoon Snack: How Peaches, Plums and Nectarines Can Keep You Slim

A new study to be presented at the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia next August reports that stone fruits (plums, peaches and nectarines) could be a "secret weapon" against something called "metabolic syndrome," a component of obesity, inflammations and other serious health problems.

Health Benefits of Nectarines

Nutritionally, nectarines are a better source of several vitamins and minerals than their peach relatives, including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. They’re also rich in antioxidants, including vitamin E and flavonoids. The nutrients in nectarines may support healthy weight management and disease prevention, along with other benefits. There are many ways to incorporate the fruit into healthful meals, snacks, and desserts.

Nectarine Benefits the Gut, Eyes, Heart & Immune System

Hailing from the Rosaceae family of plants, nectarines are related to raspberries, pears, apricots and plums. This stone fruit is also nearly genetically identical to peaches, set apart by just one different allele.

Nectarine Fruit: 8 Benefits, Recipes & Nutrition You Didn’t Know!

Nutritionally, nectarines and peaches are nearly identical. Both fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and offer similar health benefits. Your choice between the two usually comes down to personal preference.

Nectarine Nutrition facts

Nectarines have small but healthy concentrations of other anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin. These compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.

Nectarine vs. Peach — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Actually, nectarines are a type of peach. They are distinguished by a genetic mutation that results in smooth skin instead of the typical fuzzy skin of peaches.

Nectarine: a Fruit Reborn

The nectarine is just a fuzzless peach. Though nectarines are smaller than peaches, with firmer, more plumlike flesh and a rich, winy flavor and aroma, they are not, as some suppose, a hybrid of peach and plum. Peach trees sometimes produce nectarines, and vice versa; occasional chimeras are peach on one half, nectarine on the other. In both fruits, a single gene controls whether the flesh is white or yellow; white is dominant.

Nectarines: The Sweet and Juicy Fruit You Need in Your Garden

At first glance, nectarines look very similar to peaches. The main difference between the two? Nectarines have smooth, fuzz-free skin, while peaches are known for their characteristic fuzzy exterior. But aside from the skin, nectarines and peaches are actually quite similar. They both belong to the Prunus persica species, and their flesh, flavor, and growing conditions are almost identical.

Peaches and nectarines and how they can give your fertility health a boost

In relation to fertility, peaches and nectarines contain beta-carotene/ This is something that the body converts into vitamin A (any orange or yellow fruits or veg – think beta- carotene!) and which helps to produce the female sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone). These hormones are important for ovulation and for the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Beta-carotene is the plant-based precursor to vitamin A, helping to protect from conditions related to oestrogen dominance in women and men, such as, breast cysts, heavy menstrual bleeding, obesity and stress to name a few!

White Nectarines

"I think most fruit, you don't want it to be just sweet. Normally, nectarines are just sweet. You want balance between acidity and sweetness; that's what brings out the character of the fruit. Often, you pick two fruits that look the same, smell the same, but one has more sugar and less acid. That's what makes fruit exciting. Sweet is one-dimensional; if you have the acid, it adds a whole other dimension, and it works the entire palate."

Resources

Top 6 health benefits of nectarines

Nectarines are a useful source of protective plant compounds, including vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids and phenols. These plant compounds act as defence chemicals and play a similar protective role for us, supporting our immune system and heart, and potentially helping to protect us from certain forms of cancer, too. One of the plant compounds provided by nectarines is gallic acid, research suggests it may have potential benefits in a number of conditions including diabetes, as well as certain cancers, brain health and obesity.