Peach

Food · Fruit · Food, Typed Supps

A solid source of vitamins A and C together, both tied to skin health.

Stage by stage

Intake (Soft flesh chewed): Its soft flesh breaks down easily with chewing.
Stomach (Vitamin C & sugar digest): Vitamin C and natural sugars begin digesting quickly.
Small intestine (Vitamin A & C absorbed): Vitamin A (as beta-carotene) and vitamin C are absorbed together.
Skin tissue (Collagen & cell turnover supported): Absorbed vitamin C supports collagen production; vitamin A supports skin cell turnover.

Timing

Ripens at room temperature; refrigerating a ripe peach can dull its flavor and texture.

Time to effect

Hours: Vitamin C blood levels rise within a couple of hours of eating.

Allergens

None of the fourteen major allergens. Derived from what this food is, not from a product label.

Eating patterns

Fits: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Halal, Kosher, Gluten-free. Depends on the product: Keto.

In season

June to September in the northern hemisphere, December to March in the southern.

Satiety

The satiety index is measured on 240 kcal servings. At 39 kcal per 100 g that is 623 g of this, which is not a serving anyone eats — so the index has nothing to say about it.

Environmental footprint

1.1 kg CO2e and 199 litres of freshwater per kg, matched to "Other fruit" in Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360.

Cost band

Cheap — roughly £3 per kg, as a band midpoint rather than a price.

Key nutrients

Nutrition per 100g

Calories: 38.5
Protein: 0.7g
Carbohydrate: 8g
of which sugars: 7.4g
Fat: 0g
of which saturated: 0g
Fibre: 1.6g
Sodium: 0mg

Food vs. supplement

A medium peach provides a meaningful combined dose of vitamin C and beta-carotene — two nutrients often sold separately in supplement form — alongside fibre and potassium a pill skips.

Kitchen tip

Grilling halved peaches for a couple of minutes per side caramelizes their natural sugar and works as well in savory dishes as in dessert.

Common myth

Peach skin should always be peeled off. In reality: The skin holds a real share of the fruit’s fibre and antioxidants — a quick rinse is enough for most people, with peeling more a texture preference than a nutritional need.