It’s possible, depending on where you live, to plant a peach or nectarine and get a tree in about three years, but probably producing fruit slightly different than the one planted, as previously mentioned. Here Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mercola.com, reflects on common uses of nectarines:
“Often confused with the peach, a nectarine (Prunus persica) is a stone fruit related to apricot, almond, plum and cherry, which comes from the genus Prunus as well.1 The nectarine tree may resemble a peach tree and grows in regions with a cool winter period.2
The nectarine is available in a variety of colors such as white, yellow, orange and red.3 Both peaches and nectarines can be clingstone, in which the pit stays stuck to the flesh, or freestone, in which the pit easily falls off.4
Nectarines are available during the summer, making them a great addition to refreshing drinks and desserts.5 In 2003, China was the leading peach and nectarine producer, accounting for 38 percent of its global production.6
In 2019, world production of nectarines and peaches was projected to be 19.9 million tons, with China continuing to be the world’s leader at 13.5 million tons. The European Union comes in second at 3.6 million tons and the United States comes in third with 734,000, followed by Turkey with 600,000.7
Nectarines Versus Peaches: What’s the Difference?
It may be confusing to tell nectarines and peaches apart. Aside from the fact that they belong to the same subgenus, Amygdalus, they also belong to the same species, persica.8 Only one gene separates the one from the other, giving peach its fuzzy skin and nectarine its smooth skin.9 This table shows the differences between peaches and nectarines to help you determine which is which:
| Peach | Nectarine |
|---|---|
| Bigger in size10 with a soft and fuzzy coating11 | Round12 with smooth and shiny skin,13 and a more vibrant color14 |
| May be sweet (white-fleshed) or tangy (yellow-fleshed)15 | More aromatic16 and sweeter17 |
| Has an elliptical or round-shaped seed18 | Has a pointed and egg-shaped seed in the middle19 |
| Believed to have originated from China20 | Origin is unknown but it is assumed to have developed from peaches21 |
3 Nectarine Health Benefits That You Should Know
he nectarine may be small, but it is loaded with phenolics, which exhibit antioxidant properties, carotenoids and ascorbic acid. Its skin contains more of these nutrients rather than its flesh, so be sure not to peel this fruit unless necessary.22 Nectarine is also a potassium-rich fruit that may help maintain good muscle, heart and kidney health.23 This fruit may provide beneficial effects against the following health conditions as well:
- Obesity-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease — A Texas AgriLife Research study found that nectarines, along with peaches and plums, have antiobesity, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties that may help inhibit obesity-related diabetes. These fruits contain bioactive compounds that may help suppress the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol to help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease as well.24
- Constipation — Nectarine’s fiber content may help ease digestive issues like constipation and may help regulate your bowel function.25
- Macular degeneration — This fruit is known to contain beta carotene that may help boost your eye health and reduce your risk of eye conditions like macular degeneration,26 which damages the macula and leads to vision loss.27
To maximize these health benefits and avoid pesticide ingestion, you must ensure that you purchase and consume organic nectarines. Nectarines rank fourth in the “Dirty Dozen” list of Environmental Working Group’s 2019 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. More than 90 percent of nectarine samples were found to contain two or more kinds of pesticides.28
If organic nectarines are unavailable at the grocery store, you could look for a local farmer who does not use pesticides, or you could plant a nectarine pit in your garden if you’re willing to wait a few years for it to grow into a tree and produce fruit.29,30 However, you should remember that this fruit is prone to wind scarring and brown rots because of its smooth skin.31″
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Read More … Article Source: https://foodfacts.mercola.com/nectarine.html
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