You should never eat peaches like this in the summer.

Peaches are mild in nature and flavor, containing various vitamins, fruit acids, and inorganic salts such as calcium and phosphorus. Their iron content is 4 to 6 times that of apples and pears. Peaches have the effects of nourishing qi and blood, and nourishing yin to promote fluid production. Due to their relatively high iron content, peaches are an ideal supplementary food for patients with iron-deficiency anemia.

TCM Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), peaches are considered to be "hot" in nature with a sweet and sour taste. They are believed to have the effects of tonifying, benefiting the heart, promoting fluid production, quenching thirst, resolving food stagnation, moistening the intestines, and alleviating deficiency-heat. Known as the "fruit of the lung," they are suitable for individuals with low blood sugar, lung diseases, and deficiency-type panting and coughing as a dietary supplement. Peach kernels (taoren) are used to remove blood stasis, moisten the intestines to promote bowel movements, and suppress cough. They can be used to treat conditions like blood stasis, amenorrhea with abdominal pain, hypertension, and constipation (used as a single Chinese herb, not for raw consumption). Unripe green peaches, when soaked with tea as a beverage, have the effects of astringing sweat and stopping bleeding, and can be used to treat night sweats due to yin deficiency and hemoptysis. Peach leaves also have insecticidal properties; a decoction can be used to wash the vulva to treat trichomoniasis. Peach blossoms have the effects of reducing swelling and promoting urination, and can be used to treat edema and ascites, dry stools, difficult urination, and foot swelling.

Although peaches are beneficial, there are some contraindications:

1. Unripe peaches should not be eaten, as they can cause bloating or sores and carbuncles;

2. Even ripe peaches should not be consumed in excess, as too many can generate heat and "fire" in the body;

3. Rotten peaches must not be eaten;

4. Peaches should not be eaten with soft-shelled turtles (trionyx);

5. Diabetics should eat fewer peaches when their blood sugar is too high.