Introduction of Nectarines
Nectarines are juicy fruits that are close relatives of peaches. In fact, nectarines are from the same family, Rosaceae, and are peaches, with genes that give them their smooth skin, firm flesh and flavor. Both seeds have sticky pits or loose pits, meaning that the pits stay close to the flesh of the fruit or fall off easily, making slicing difficult. don’t be bad.
Nectarine can be eaten raw, and since the skin is not colored, they are often eaten raw (they do not need to be peeled). They are usually more expensive than peaches, but they are similar. Nectarines are believed to have been domesticated in China about 4,000 years ago, around the same time that peaches became a popular fruit.
Botanists believe that the nectarine came from the genes that farmers wanted and began to cultivate. Because these trees can contain branches that carry genetic diseases, nectarines can be grown directly from peach trees.
Physical description
Nectarines and peach trees are indistinguishable. Small to medium in height, the plants rarely reach 6.5 meters (21 feet) in height. In planting, however, they are usually kept between 3 and 4 meters (10 and 13 ft) tall by pruning. The leaves are bright green, spear-shaped and long; they usually have glands on their bottom that secrete a liquid to attract ants and other insects.
Flowers, which are carried in the leaf axils, are borne one or in groups of two or three at the edge of the shoot of the past season. The five petals, usually pink but sometimes white, five sepals and three stamens are carried on the outside of a small tube, called the hypanthium, which forms the flower head.
Nectarine fruit begins with an ovary that develops into a fleshy, shiny tissue that forms the food portion of the fruit and a hard interior, called the head or pit, which covering the seed(s). Of the two ovules in the ovary, only one is usually fertilized and develops into a seed. This usually causes one half of the fruit to be larger than the other. The flesh can be white, yellow or red, and the surface of the skin is usually yellow to red. The different types can be loose pits, with pits that are loose in the flesh, or sticky pits, with flesh that sticks to the pits. the body.
The sweetest variety of nectarine
Not all types of nectarine are suitable for growing anywhere, because many have high temperature requirements that are often difficult to meet here in the region. We have selected four recommended and delicious varieties for you. ‘Fantasia’: early maturity from mid-August, red-purple fruits, purple flesh and high harvest.
‘Super Crimson’: maturity from the end of July, instead of the average fruit, the flesh is purple, especially in winter fruiting. ‘Silver Gem’: early maturity from mid-August, white flesh, less frost-resistant and average fruit.
‘Ruby Gem’: late in early September, white flesh, high yield, more demand for large fruit.
Nutrition
Nectarine is a sweet fruit, nutritious and low in calories. With only 44 calories per 100g, it provides an impressive amount of powerful antioxidants and phenolic compounds, as well as dietary fiber.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, the vitamin content of nectarines may include vitamin A, B vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B6, pantothenic acid and folate, as well as vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K. Nectarines are very healthy. . source of potassium and other minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium, without cholesterol.
Health Benefits
Prevents cancer
Many signs have revealed that the presence of phenolic compounds in nectarines can reduce the risk of lung and breast cancer. The strong antioxidant activity of nectarines can prevent the formation of tumor cells and prevent oxidative damage to healthy cells in the body.
Promotes weight gain
Nectarine is essential for adding fruit to a weight watcher’s diet. They help to get rid of extra pounds in different ways. Being rich in fiber, nectarines keep you full for longer and prevent you from eating too many calories. In addition, nectarines are low-calorie and low-glycemic fruits, which promote weight loss and stabilize blood sugar.
Work life increased
A 2011 geriatric animal study reported that high antioxidant fruits may help increase longevity. He studied the effects of nectarine consumption on the survival of Drosophila melanogaster, a type of fly. The results of the study suggested that the fruit improved the life of the flies. The authors concluded that nectarine can promote longevity by reducing oxidative damage and improving glucose metabolism. However, more research is needed from human studies.
A 2014 meta-analysis built on this finding when it studied how fruit and vegetable consumption affects mortality. It looked at data from 16 studies involving 56,423 deaths. The results showed an association between a higher intake of fruits and vegetables and a lower risk of death from all causes.
Help to boost Immunity
The vitamin C content of nectarines can help the immune system in several ways.
Research in 2017 reported that vitamin C deficiency leads to poor healing and a higher risk of infection. The immune benefits of vitamins include boosting the skin’s defenses against germs, which are disease-causing microbes. Vitamin C also enhances the ability of immune cells to kill pathogens and reduces tissue damage at the site of infection. Researchers say vitamin deficiency remains common in Western countries. For this reason, they advise to ensure adequate nutrition by increasing the amount of foods containing vitamin C in the diet or by taking supplements.
