Nectarines are juicy and sweet, making them the perfect snack no matter what time of year it is. While these fruits taste lovely throughout the year, they're the freshest in the summertime, which is why many people think of summer when they eat them. These peach-like fruits are delicious in recipes or on their own.
When you have acid reflux or GERD, finding foods that won't upset your body can be difficult. Many fruits are more acidic than you probably think, so it poses the question: are nectarines acidic?
Nectarines are indeed acidic. Nectarines have a pH level of 3.9 to 4.2. This pH rating puts nectarines right in the middle of the acidic side of the pH scale. These fruits do have a slight tartness when you bite into them, so if you suffer from acid reflux, GERD, or heartburn, these may not be the fruit for you.
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Are Nectarines Good For You?
Nectarines are low in calories and fat, making them a great sweet treat whether you're on a healthy journey or not. Each medium-sized nectarine only has about 63 calories. These smooth-skinned fruits give our bodies fantastic nutrients, and they may have some health benefits that many of us don't think about.
Nectarines may be linked to preventing anemia. Anemia is a lack of red blood cells and can make those who suffer from it feel excessively tired. Eating nectarines give your body a dose of vitamin C, which supports iron intake. Vitamin C helps make iron easier to absorb in your body. Therefore, eating nectarines with other high iron foods may help to prevent anemia.
These fruits are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants do wonders for the human body. Antioxidants help to build up your immune system, making it easier for your body to fight off diseases. Not only can it boost your immune system, but antioxidants also help eliminate oxidative stress, which can contribute to heart disease, brain diseases, and diabetes.
Nectarines are linked to healthy skin. These fruits have a decent copper content. Copper is a mineral that can help stimulate growth in the second layer of your skin and help produce collagen. Collagen is a wonderful thing that helps keep our skin looking healthy and young.
If you're pregnant, eating nectarines can help keep your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure during pregnancy can cause unwanted complications like premature birth, low birth weight, and even maternal death. Since nectarines are high in potassium, these fruits may be able to help prevent some of these conditions.
Can You Eat Nectarines with Acid Reflux?
Based solely on the pH level of the fruit alone, you may not want to risk eating these fruits if you suffer from acid reflux. The pH rating on these fruits is in the middle, so they're not the most acidic food you can eat, but whether you'll have a bad reaction or not is entirely dependent on your own body.
You may have no issues eating nectarine every day, whereas your friend who also has acid reflux can't even take a bite without their body reacting negatively. So, you probably can eat nectarines with acid reflux, but listen to your body. If you begin to feel discomfort, don't continue to eat them.
If you feel no symptoms, you can probably keep eating them without issue.
What is the Difference Between Peaches and Nectarines?
If you're looking at pictures of peaches and nectarines, you probably think they're the same fruit. While these fruits have similar tastes, they're a little different. They are essentially the same fruit, but the biggest difference between the two is that peaches have fuzzy skin, while nectarines have smooth skin.
What Country Produces the Most Nectarines?
When nectarines were first discovered, they were predominantly produced in China, ancient Greece, and Rome. Currently, the major nectarine producers of the world are located in Asia and Europe. China leads the world in nectarine production, with 12 million metric tons per year.
Coming in second, but not nearly as close to China, is Spain. Spain produces about 1.5 million metric tons of nectarines a year, and Italy, coming in third, produces 1.3 million metric tons. Greece still produces a lot of nectarines, but they come in fourth on the world scale.
What State Produces the Most Nectarines in the United States?
The Spanish were the ones who brought nectarines to the United States originally. Since its introduction to the United States, California has been the largest producer of nectarines in the United States. This state alone is responsible for 95% of nectarines production in the entire country.
When the United States isn't getting their nectarines from California due to them being out of season, they import them from Peru since their season is opposite due to being in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ways to Use Up Nectarines Before They Go Bad
If you have a bunch of nectarines sitting on your counter that you need to use before they go bad, there's plenty of other ways to eat them without eating them on their own.
One of the tastiest summer salads is this nectarine and goat cheese salad. The salad has no lettuce, but it has cucumbers, nectarines, basil, and goat cheese. It's super refreshing and a great way to use up any nectarines.
Do you love mango salsa? If you do, you need to try making mango nectarine salsa. You can follow your favorite mango salsa recipe but substitute half the mango for nectarines. This is perfect for eating with tortilla chips, topping tacos, or even on top of some freshly grilled chicken or shrimp.
If you love pineapple on pizza or don't, you still need to try this when you have a make-your-own pizza night. You can use your favorite store-bought pizza dough or create your own.
You'll top the pizza with a little olive oil and ricotta as your base and then top it with nectarines and, if you like, bacon. It's savory, and it's sweet; it's the best pizza you didn't know you needed.
Don't know what to drink? Check out these articles: 20 Most and Least Acidic Juices and 20+ Alcoholic Drinks Ranked by Acidity Level