Life’s a Peach, if you eat them

Peaches are a great source of carotenes and flavonoids – compounds with high antioxidant activity – such as lycopene and lutein, which give peaches their much sought after complexion (the perfect combination of red, orange, and yellow). As with most metabolites that exhibit antioxidant activity (which means they aid in mopping up pesky free radicals), these phytochemicals are particularly beneficial in preventing macular degeneration, heart disease, and cancer.

Peaches are a great diet-friendly food – they only contain 45 calories, and are packed full of fiber, vitamin C and A, and potassium. But beware, canned peaches can contain up to six times more calories than fresh peaches and loose up to 80 percent of their vitamin C content, not to mention the addition of artificial additives and preservatives.

Peaches are also a good diuretic, which means they’re beneficial in alleviating fluid retention. On a more serious note, if you suffer from gout or rheumatism, natural diuretics can bring some relief.

And lastly, consuming carotenoids will help to protect your skin against the damaging effects of the sun. B well.......