Peachy Glowing Skin
PEACHY GLOWING SKIN The months of July and August are the height of peach season--a time to indulge in the sweetest nectar of all. There are more than 2000 varieties of peaches with 300 of them grown in North America alone. That’s a phenomenal offering of sticky ambrosia to choose from! Believe it or not, peaches fall under the rose family. The fuzzy fruit is also a close relative of the apricot, almond, plum and, yes, cherry. It is widely believed that peaches (scientifically named Prunus persica) originated in China where even today they grow wild in the countryside. The earliest account of peaches found in Greece was around 300 B.C., by way of Iran (formerly Persia) the route by which this lovely fruit was brought to the Mediterranean. By 100 A.D., the Romans got their first tastes of the myth-inducing fruit. At only 38 calories your next serving of syrupy peaches promises to nourish your body and skin with Vitamins A and C, it is fiber rich while providing iron and potassium, for full health benefits. Those key vitamins are essential for protecting your skin from the Georgia peach heat of summer. When taken internally of used topically, Vitamin A is strongly associated with temporarily reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, and other visible signs of aging in skin. Vitamin C provides a protective moisture against environmental factors. These nutrients are good reason to include peaches in your diet while they are in season. With easy access to farmer’s markets you can find some of the best organic peaches on offer. Be aware that peaches have some of the highest rates of pesticide and herbicide use during their growing season. With this in mind, whether you prefer doughnut, white, or cling-free eating peaches be sure to choose organic going forward. Apricots If you prefer the taste of organic apricots over peaches, you will reap the same nourishment for body and skin from this fuzzy smaller relative. The Egyptians created the first known exfoliants using crushed apricot kernels to help with old epidermal layers to reveal softer smooth and radiant skin beneath. You can find skin exfoliants today that contain this ingredient, but be mindful of the allergen potential in apricot pits if you have sensitive skin that is allergy prone. For a relaxing body scrub you can use fresh fruit or oil extracts added to the following ingredients for velvety skin that undeniably glows. Organic Peach Body Scrub 2 medium organic peaches or apricots (peeled and pitted) 1 cup organic brown sugar 1 cup jojoba oil 1 cup sweet almond oil Puree the peaches in a blender then add sugar and oils. Mix this for the desired consistency. Bring this luxurious mixture into the shower and apply generously with circular motions over the entire body. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat dry and apply your favorite peach or apricot moisturizer (maybe organic shea butter with peach essence) completing your peachy theme for enticingly smooth supple skin. Antropia Luna has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and a Masters degree in cultural anthropology from New Mexico State University--now writing health and wellness articles for Joanna Vargas Skincare Sanctuary in NYC. Otherwise trekking the national museum scene freelance.]>>