Both the peach and the nectarine are stone fruits. A stone fruit is a fruit with a pit in the middle of it. Dried nectarines and dried peaches are similar in size and texture. They can be used interchangeably in most recipes. From a nutritional standpoint, there are some minor differences in these two fruits. The calorie content and the carbohydrate content of these two dried fruits is almost identical. There is a slight difference in the percentage of protein, iron, calcium and vitamin C found in each of these dried fruits. The largest difference is in their percentage of fiber. Dried peaches have a higher percentage of fiber than dried nectarines. Both of these fruits have similar health benefits in regards to fighting inflammation and reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Nectarines support heart health, bone health and vision. They contain antioxidants that play a significant role in your overall health. Many people do not get an adequate amount of potassium or fiber in their diet. Low potassium can lead to a disorder known as Hypokalemia. An insufficient amount of fiber can lead to constipation, heart-related conditions and weight gain. Nectarines are a good source of potassium and fiber. Including them in your diet can help prevent weight gain and many of the adverse health concerns, such as diabetes, that accompany obesity. Not only can eating nectarines help you stay healthy, it can keep you looking good. Nectarines contain antioxidants that fight off free radicals that can adversely affect the condition and appearance of your skin. Nectarines can help reduce cholesterol levels and help blood pressure levels stay within a safe range. Adding dried nectarines to your diet can help you fight off illness and disease. Some studies show that nectarines have anti-cancer properties.
Free radicals can adversely affect your body in many ways. When you incorporate dried nectarines into your diet, you can benefit from the powerful antioxidants in the fruit that will help protect your body from these potentially damaging free radicals. Nectarines contain a high amount of the antioxidants polyphenols and cryptoxanthin. Nectarines are a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C provides a powerful defense against illnesses and disease. Adding dehydrated nectarines to your trail mix, granola or simply enjoying this delectable fruit by the handfuls will provide your body with a good supply of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that converts into vitamin A. Vitamin A supports healthy skin, teeth, bones and vision.
You definitely want to consider buying bulk dried nectarines so that you have a steady supply available for consumption if you are concerned about taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health. A lot is said about reducing your sodium intake when you’re making diet changes to benefit your heart. In conjunction with reducing your sodium, you need to increase the potassium in your diet. Potassium helps blood vessels relax which helps you maintain an acceptable blood pressure. Keeping your blood pressure under control is essential to heart health. Nectarines are a good source of potassium. Adding dried nectarines to your diet is a flavorful way to increase your fiber intake. Fiber is also a key component in a heart healthy diet. The powerful antioxidants in nectarines help reduce LDL, “bad” cholesterol levels and stimulated HDL, “good” cholesterol.
The majority of people do not get the recommended daily value of fiber. Fiber is important to your overall health. It is especially vital to your digestive system. You might want to consider buying dried nectarines wholesale in order to have a good supply available so that you can add them to your homemade snack mix, stir them into ice cream or yogurt, incorporate them into various recipes and pack them in a lunch bag or backpack as a way to increase your fiber intake. Constipation causes discomfort and can potentially cause other health problems. Getting the adequate amount of fiber each day can prevent constipation. If you’re faced with the unpleasant situation of having diarrhea, you can possibly remedy the situation by eating a high-fiber food such as dehydrated nectarines. Fiber affects the rate of digestion and the absorption of nutrients.
Making dried nectarines at home is incredibly easy. It can be done in a dehydrator or your oven. Simply wash the fruit, remove the pit and cut the fruit into slices. Place them in a single layer on a dehydrator tray or baking sheet that has been sprayed lightly with non-stick spray. It takes about 12-18 hours to dry nectarines in a dehydrator at 135 degrees. If you’re using an oven dry the slices on the lowest setting and begin checking them after 8 hours. Check regularly until the fruit is sufficiently dry.
