In this beautiful season of Spring it’s beneficial to get out there and enjoy the sunshine. With Spring comes the first of the season stone fruit – peaches, plums and cherries are all members of the Prunus genus.They are therefore closely related and often called “Stone Fruits”. Peaches, plums and cherries are beneficial for weight maintenance, they can reduce the risk of Diabetes and they are now in season!
Try any of these stone fruits this spring and maintain a healthy lifestyle the hassle free way!
• Peaches are a great source of vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6 and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, chloride, manganese, copper and iron. Research has shown that peaches are considered one of the 20 essential foods for a healthy life. Peaches can be served fresh, dried, frozen or combined in a salad with other fruits. They make a great accompaniment to pork or chicken and are great in desserts.
• Plums are delicious, juicy and low in calories and contain no saturated fats. Just like the peach, plums also contain antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibre, sorbitol and isatin, which is known to help regulate the smooth functioning of the digestive system and relieve constipation problems. Plums are high in potassium, flouride and iron, which is required for red blood cell formation in the body. Plums can be a great addition to pies, deserts, jams and jellies. Plums are great for the prevention of Diabetes, Cancer and cell damage.
• Cherries – this super fruit is not only delicious to eat, it also has some amazing health benefits! Cherries are a great source of vitamin A (beta carotene) and they are said to contain 19 times more beta carotene than blueberries and strawberries. They are also rich in vitamins C, E, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate and fibre. Cherries can be served fresh or dried and are a great addition to pies, deserts and lend themselves to savoury spicy dishes from the Middle East in particular.
