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Nectarine is the fruit of peach trees, and it was not bred by artificial selection, but created by nature itself. Unlike peaches, nectarines have a smooth skin.
It is believed that nectarines preserve not only health, but also beauty. Is it so? What other useful qualities does a sweet fruit have? Let’s figure it out.
How and when nectarines appeared in the diet
In Europe, they were known back in the Middle Ages thanks to sailors who brought both the fruits themselves and their seeds for breeding. In America, this fruit appeared about 2000 years ago.
China is considered the birthplace of nectarines, and this name was given after comparing it with nectar – the drink of the gods.
Nectarines appeared from a natural mutation in which nature participated, without human intervention. Even now, as a result of cross-pollination, nectarines can be found on peach trees and vice versa. Over time, gardeners learned to grow nectarines without waiting for nature to work again.
The composition and calorie content of nectarines
Nectarines contain a large amount of vitamin A, C, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, vitamins B, D, E. These elements have a positive effect on human immunity and digestive processes. The composition of fruits includes natural sugars – sucrose, fructose, glucose. In addition, nectarines have pectin compounds that prevent the development of harmful organisms.
These fruits have a relatively low calorie content, which allows them to be added to the diet of losing weight.
| Caloric value on 100 g | 50 kcal |
| Proteins | 1,07 g |
| Fats | 0,31 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8,86 g |
The benefits of nectarines
Nectarines cleanse the body of toxins, normalize the work of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, and increase immunity.
Eating even one fruit a day will nourish the body with vitamins and energize.
“This is a great product, rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, it is low in calories,” comments gastroenterologist-hepatologist Olga Arisheva.
The benefits of nectarines for women
With vitamins A and E in their composition, these juicy fruits help maintain the smoothness and elasticity of the skin, improve the structure of the skin. Nutritious masks are made from the pulp of nectarine, and seed oil is added to creams.
It is useful to use nectarines during pregnancy. In addition to all the elements necessary for health contained in this fruit, fruits help get rid of toxicosis, or at least significantly weaken its effect on the body.
Reducing edema, removing excess fluid from the body will help in the process of losing weight. However, it is worth remembering that in this case it is recommended to consume nectarines in the morning.
The benefits of nectarines for men
Regular consumption of nectarines will help the strong half of humanity to prevent the development of diseases such as prostatitis, urolithiasis. The content of magnesium in the fruit will strengthen the heart muscle and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which, according to statistics, are more common in men.
The benefits of nectarines for children
For children, eating such a fruit will only be a joy – all thanks to its sweet taste. Moreover, the level of benefit is commensurate with the love of children for him: the use of nectarines has a positive effect on the growth of the child and the overall strengthening of the body, which is extremely important during the period of active development of a small person.
Harm of nectarines
– People with food allergies and diabetes should avoid using the product. Otherwise, it can be used by everyone, but it is worth giving preference to a fresh product, rather than a product canned with sugar, says Olga Arisheva.
Despite the fact that nectarines may contain sweet seeds, it should be borne in mind that their kernels contain hydrocyanic acid, which is considered a strong poison. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat them.
The use of nectarines in medicine
– There are no separate diets with nectarines, but they are recommended to be added to the diet in order to diversify it. Fruits are rich in fiber, so they can be recommended to people suffering from constipation, Olga Arisheva notes.
With increased acidity of the stomach, it is advised to drink freshly squeezed nectarine juice 15 minutes before meals.
In addition, this fruit is useful for anemia, as it has a positive effect on the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
The use of nectarines in cooking
The range of applications of this useful fruit is great. It can be safely considered universal. Cocktails, jams, compotes, desserts, pastry fillings are just a small part of the use cases. Nectarines can even be stewed and baked with meat, dried, grilled.
Nectarine preserves
It turns out a beautiful orange-red color, with separate pieces of juicy fruit. In winter, you will certainly appreciate its pleasant aroma and beneficial properties.
| Nectarines | 0,5 kg |
| Water | 1 glass |
| Sugar | 0,5 kg |
| Lemon juice | 1 Art. a spoon |
If you want the fruit slices to not turn into porridge during cooking, then you need to choose hard fruits. We take out the stone from the nectarine, cut the flesh into slices. Mix the sugar with water and cook the syrup until the sugar is completely dissolved, then add the lemon juice. Dip the fruits in syrup and boil for about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and leave to infuse for a day, stirring occasionally. After that, put on fire again, bring to a boil and again let it brew for about a day. Next, boil for 15 minutes, removing the foam. Sterilize the jars, pour the finished product over them and cork with boiled lids.
Pie with nectarines
The cake turns out delicious, with a spicy sourness. Will not leave indifferent any sweet tooth
For shortcrust pastry:
| Flour | 300 g |
| Butter (chilled) | 150 g |
| Sugar | 1 Art. a spoon |
| Salt | 1 pinch |
| Cold water | 1 Art. a spoon |
For the filling and cream:
| Egg | 4 piece. |
| Natural yoghurt | 400 ml |
| Sugar | 100 g |
| Vanilla sugar | 1 Art. a spoon |
| Lemon | 0,5 piece. |
| Nectarines | 5 piece. |
Mix flour, sugar, salt and finely chopped butter. Chop until smooth, add water at the end. Knead the dough and send it to the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
For the cream, lightly beat the eggs, add the yogurt. It should not contain additives. We fall asleep sugar, vanilla sugar, 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice, rub a little zest. Mix until smooth.
Cut the nectarines into small pieces.
We spread the dough on a baking sheet, distribute it over the entire surface, creating sides. Bake until half cooked for 15 minutes at 200 degrees.
We lay out part of the nectarine slices into the dough base, pour the yogurt cream and decorate with the remaining nectarine, inserting the slices into the cream. Bake for about 30 minutes until creamy and golden. Let the cake cool down – and you can serve it on the table.
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How to choose and store nectarines
Since nectarine fruits are very delicate, they can spoil quickly. Let’s figure out how to properly store them at home.
- For greater preservation of fruits, it is recommended to lay them out in one row, and not stack them on top of each other, and wrap each one with paper.
- Nectarines can be frozen. This storage option will preserve the taste and beneficial properties of fruits for up to six months. However, when freezing, separate them first. Only after they are frozen can they be put in a common sealed bag.
- If there is a cut fruit left, then it can be put in a container with a tightly closed lid. In this form, it will lie for about two days.
When choosing nectarines, consider the period of its natural ripening – the second half of July. At this time, it is possible to purchase real fruit without pesticides, with the greatest health benefits and with the brightest, sweetest taste. Pay attention to the appearance of the fetus. It should not have dents or damage. Try not to choose fruits piled on top of each other, it is very easy to stumble upon deformed ones, and they, in turn, deteriorate faster. Nectarines should be bright and have a pleasant smell.
Popular questions and answers
Is a nectarine a berry or a fruit?
It is also worth paying attention to an important difference between berries and fruits – the size of the fruit. A berry, as a rule, fits in two fingers, while the whole palm is required for a fruit. In this regard, it can be argued that nectarine is a fruit.