Delicious in puddings and salads,
this pal of the peach is also a great snack. Take a bite and enjoy the healthy
benefits
This time of year is brilliant for foodies!
An array of delicious fruit is coming into season and one of the healthiest and
tastiest is the nectarine. When ripe, this smooth-skinned stone fruit is
super-sweet and juice and comes packed with really impressive health benefits.
One of the biggest of those bonuses is
found in the yellowy-red skin and flesh. These colors mean the fruit contains
beta-carotene, which helps to support the health of our eyes and immune system.
Our bodies convert beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is an antioxidant and
could help protect against certain cancers. Just one nectarine provides around
a quarter of your daily vitamin A requirements.
Delicious
in puddings and salads, this pal of the peach is also a great snack
Antioxidant-tastic
Nectarines are also rich in vitamin C,
another fab antioxidant that helps protect our bodies from the damage done by
the day-to-day toxins and pollutants that we can’t help coming into contact
with.
Lutein, another of its antioxidants, helps
to keep our eyes and skin healthy. Most people don’t get enough lutein in their
diet, so munching on a nectarine is an easy way to make sure keep our levels
up. All this antioxidant content is amazing for protect our skin against the
summer sun’s damaging UV rays.
‘One nectarine provides around a
quarter of your daily vitamin A requirements’
Superfood stats
1 nectarine (100g) will provide you with
approximately: 36 calories, 8g carbohydrates, 1.2g protein, 1.1g fiber, 0.1g
fat
Super fruit
Stone fruit, such as nectarines, peaches
and plums may be able to help fight metabolic syndrome, a condition linked to
obesity that could lead to serious health problems. US researchers found that
the fruits contain compounds that work in a variety of ways to reduce
inflammation, fight fat and ward off heart disease and obesity-related
diabetes.
So, whether you use it as an ingredient or
a stand-alone snack, nab a nectarine!
3 ways with nectarines
1. Magic up a salad
Slice a nectarine into 8 pieces and add it
to a bowl with 2 large handfuls of salad leaves, blue cheese and a few slices
of Parma ham.
Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic
vinegar. Toss and serve for lunch.
2. Blitz and freeze
Blitz
and freeze
Blend one chopped, stoned nectarine, 1
tablespoon of honey and a few spoonful of plain Greek yoghurt in a food
processor or with a hand blender.
Freeze for a healthy and delicious frozen
yoghurt treat.
3. Bake a dessert
Bake
a dessert
Slice a few nectarines in half, remove the
stones and place skin side down in a roasting tray.
Sprinkle with a little brown sugar and
cinnamon, and then bake until the fruit collapses. Serve with crème fraîche.
