PEACH

Peaches are good source of vitamin E,Vitamin A, vitamin K, niacin & copper, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, calcium & phosphorus. As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C, peaches can also help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer.

Peaches are especially beneficial to the digestive, circulatory & nervous systems.
Peaches prevent cancer, heart disease & diabetes.
Peach fruit decreases the likelihood of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease,helps to improve the learning ability & enhance memory.
In case the person meets with an accident & his brain is injured, then peaches can help to prevent blood stasis.
Peaches support the immune system & promote healthy eyes, skin & bones.
Peaches can be used to regulate the bowel & build the blood.
Peaches can be eaten in cases of ulcers of the stomach or inflammation of the bowel & also in cases of colitis.
Ripe peaches can be given in stomach ailments, as they soothe the walls of the stomach & remove all the accumulated toxins from the digestive system.
Peaches are good for gastrointestinal inflammations,they moisten lungs & intestines,are helpful for dry coughs & other dry conditions & useful for reducing high blood pressure.

Peaches are also valued for tightening tissues & smoothing skin, causing limited sweating & activating the blood.

Peach juice is known to remove worms from the intestine.
Peaches are beneficial for people who suffering from arthritis or rheumatism.
Consuming peach regularly has a calming effect on our nervous system.
Also, the fruit serves to be a remedy for mild headaches.
Eating peach just before going to bed gives a good restful sleep.
The aphrodisiac effect refreshes the mind & has an impact on the mood.

Both the leaves & bark  have demulcent, sedative, diuretic & expectorant action.
The fresh leaves can be used for expelling worms, as an infusion or applied outwardly to the body as a poultice.

RECIPES:

Peaches can be eaten dried, pickled, salted, candied, honeyed & just fresh.

An infusion of 15 ml of the bark or 30 ml of the dried leaves to a 500 ml of boiling water can be used for irritation & congestion of the gastric surfaces.
It is also used in whooping cough, ordinary coughs & chronic bronchitis.

Peach, Pear & Fresh Ginger Smoothie:

2.5 dl pear juice or apple juice
3 ripe peaches, cut in smaller pieces
2 tbsp natural yogurt
1 banana, sliced
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
Blend & serve.

Peach with Muesli:

6 tbsp brown sugar
6 tsp butter
6 tsp cinnamon
3 peaches
6 tbsp muesli
ice cream & fresh berries for serving
Halve the peaches & remove the pits.
Divide sugar in 6 parts. Add to each part 1 tsp of butter & 1 tsp cinnamon.
Place peach half on top of the sugar, cut side down.
Bake in the over at 180C for ca 15 min.
Add muesli to each peach & serve hot with ice cream & fresh berries.

Peach Jam:

1 kg fresh ripe peaches, cut into smaller pieces
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 kg sugar
200 ml sugar
Make syrup with sugar & water, let it cool to room temperature.
Now add lemon juice.
Add peaches & leave until next day. Stir time to time.
Next day bring it all to boil for ca 7-10 min, stirring.
Pour jam into sterilized jars & close airtight.

Tomato & Peach Salad:

2 cups fresh basil leaves & small leaves for garnish
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 ripe but firm yellow peaches, cut into wedges
4 tomatoes cut into wedges
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
salt & freshly ground black pepper
Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil.
Add the basil to the boiling water & cook until just wilted & bright green.
Transfer with a slotted spoon to a blender & puree until smooth.
With blender running, add the olive oil & 1/4 tsp each salt & pepper.
Spread the basil puree on a serving platter.
Arrange the peaches & tomatoes on top & sprinkle with the lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt & 1/8 tsp pepper. Garnish with whole basil leaves & serve.

BEAUTY:

Peach is a great moisturizer for dry skin due to the presence of vitamin A & C, also helping to regenerate skin tissue.
Rubbing a slice of peach on your skin as face mask sloughs away dead skin cells & the enzymes present in it nourish & refresh your skin, giving a natural glow.

Peaches also protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays.
To treat sunburns, you can boil this fruit, mash it with a fork & apply it on your face.
The peel of fruit can also cleanse your skin effectively.

Vitamin C in peaches is a powerful antioxidant that slows down the aging process, thus reducing wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles & blemishes.
Peach is often used in anti-aging face masks. It tightens the skin’s pores & rejuvenates a tired skin.

For Dry Skin:

apply a mixture of peach paste & yogurt for 10-15 min, then rinse off with lukewarm water.
This will not only moisturize your skin but also make it soft & supple.

Being loaded with plenty of nutrients, vitamins & antioxidants, peaches make your hair healthy &  silky.
Their positive effects on your scalp include providing protection against hair loss.
Peach is often used in hair masks to treat scalp problems.
A dirty scalp can also lead to hair fall. Topical application of peach in the form of hair mask cleanses your scalp & makes your hair soft & shiny.

MAGIC:

Fresh peach leaves can be applied to warts & then buried, the warts will fall off by the time the buried leaves have decayed.

The wood of the peach tree is used for amulets & when worn around the neck, the peach pit is thought to drive off lurking demons.
Peach flowers represent beauty in paintings & embroideries.
Peach is a symbol of youth & immortality.
The fruit of the peach symbolizes the continuous process of renewal of life & the peach flower spring, feminine charm, softness, peace, wedding & also virginity & purity.

In many traditions, a peach was associated with protective magic, there was a belief that this tree is afraid of evil spirits, so amulets & talismans made of peach wood & it's bones.

Peach wood was used to make cups, magic wands for expelling evil spirits, prophetic figurines & images of patron gods, peach branches attached to the doors of houses in the Chinese New Year, driving away from the dwellings of evil spirits.
As in Chinese culture, the Japanese believe that peaches are associated with the elimination of misfortune & evil.
Japanese festival Hinamatsuri celebrates the health & growth of young girls. Sweet peaches & peach blossoms are prominently featured during this festival as they are believed to have evil spirit banishing powers.
In Japan, as in China, the peach tree is the Tree of Life.
There is a custom to eat special bread in the form of peaches on a birthday, to drink peach tree juice or a peach-tree decoction on the New Year's Eve & to hang on the gate the plaques from the peach tree for praying for the sending down of happiness.
In Korea the peach symbolizes happiness, prosperity & longevity.
Even though it is considered a lucky fruit, there are some occasions the Koreans will not bring peaches to the table. It is told to have qualities which will drive away the spirits. Whenever honoring their ancestors it is well advised to keep this fruit far away.
The Taoists with a peach in their hands usually depicted the god of longevity Shou-shin, sometimes he was drawn out of a huge peach. Peach was the main ingredient in the Taoist elixir of life.
In Egypt, a peach is dedicated to Harpokrat - the Baby Mountain, which was revered in Egypt as the embodiment of the morning sun.
In Russian art, a peach is the fruit of salvation, a peach with a leaf in the petiole is the virtue of the heart & language, the virtue of silence.
In the art of the Renaissance peach with a leaf was a symbol of truthfulness - the echo of ancient times, when this combination meant sincere, cordial speech.