The peach tree only grows naturally in China. This tree has delicious fruit. That is why it is currently grown all over the world. It does especially well in a slightly cooler climate. A fresh peach is tasty. In that respect, it is unnecessary to use peach powder. Yet this powder is easy to use and can provide extra supplementation of vitamins, minerals and polyphenols in a quick, pleasant and tasty way. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.
Botanical drawing peach / Source: Amédée Masclef, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Contents:
- General information peach powder
- Peach powder usage tips
- Naming
- Polyphenols in peach
- Peach against tumor growth
- Unripe peaches
General information peach powder
Peach powder is sold in many online stores. Peach powder is freeze-dried. In this way, a powder is made from the flesh of the peach. The peel can also be included during freeze-drying. From the beginning of the third millennium, more and more research has been conducted into what scientists call nutraceutical products and functional foods. Nutraceutical is a combination of nutrient and pharmaceutical. It refers to the medicinal properties of peach. Functional foods are foods that are eaten to achieve a specific medicinal purpose.
Peach powder usage tips
You can use this powder to make ice cream but also to add to baked goods. In addition, it is soluble in water. This means that you can make an instant juice from it. This powder can also be easily added to a smoothie or juice to give it an extra health-boosting boost. Peach powder is the ideal seasoning if you want to make a peach pie or peach cheesecake. You can also use it for a fruit mousse. If you make your own chocolate sauce, you can give it extra nutritional value and fruit flavor by adding the powder made from peach puree. If you have oatmeal or muesli in the morning, it is an idea to add a little peach powder to it.
Dwarf peaches / Source: Stan Shebs, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Naming
Why do we use Latin in science? A short answer is: so that we know for sure which plant it is. Prunus persica is the Latin name of the peach tree.
Polyphenols in peach
Peach contains many vitamins and minerals, but polyphenols are also very important and these ensure the medicinal effect of peach. Caffeoylquinic acid is the main polyphenol in peach. Research shows that unripe peach has more medicinal substances than ripe peach. One of those substances is called chlorogenic acid. This substance contributes largely to the antioxidant effect of peaches. Scientists can measure that chlorogenic acid captures many free radicals and renders them harmless. Free radicals can destroy healthy cells and eventually cause cancer.
Peach against tumor growth
American researchers saw in 2014 that polyphenols in peach strongly suppress tumor growth. You can eat three or more peaches per day to get the required amount of polyphenols, but you can also take some peach powder. The study tested breast cancer cell lines. These did not appear to be resistant to the polyphenols from peach.
Unripe peaches
Korean Researchers conducted a study into the possibilities of using unripe peach as a supplement. The researchers saw that there were many healthy substances in the powder of unripe peaches and recommended the unripe peach as an additional food or a supplement. Eating peach can keep many diseases at bay due to the high antioxidant value of the polyphenols in peach, the researchers write. There is no unripe peach powder on the market yet. You could make peach powder yourself by grinding dried peaches. A peach tree grows well in the Netherlands and Belgium.
