Apricot vs. Peach: What's the Actual Difference?
Summary
Apricots have more vitamins and minerals: they have 4 times more vitamin A than peaches. Moreover, apricots are higher in carbs: they provide more fiber. Therefore the net carbs content is higher too. Peaches are also lower in calories.
Table of contents
Introduction
The apricot and peach are two of the world's most popular stone fruits. They are both members of the Rosaceae family and have a lot in common regarding appearance and flavor. Both feature silky skin and a rock-hard pit in the center. When they are fully ripe, no one can resist their aroma. Despite certain similarities, there are numerous differences between apricot and peach. Let us take a deeper look at these delicious fruits and see what they offer in terms of nutrition and health impacts.
Varieties
The apricot and peach are closely related because they belong to the same family (Rosaceae) and the same genus (Prunus) and originate from Central Asia and China (1) (2). However, they differ in the regions they grow.
Prunus armeniaca, the scientific name for apricot, refers to the fruit's abundance in this area. It's also known as the Armenian plum. Meanwhile, the peach, or Prunus persica, grows mainly in Persia or modern-day Iran.
Appearance and Taste
The skin of apricots is highly smooth. Apricot seeds are smaller and smoother than their peach counterparts.
Apricot fruit smells lush and sweet, and they have a slightly tart flavor, while the extract of its kernel smells bitter. The scent of apricot tree flowers is soft and feminine. The peach has a nectar-like aroma. It is soft, fuzzy, and has a velvety texture.
Apricots have orange or yellow skin, but sometimes they can be red-blushed in the background. The color spectrum of the peach ranges from pale white through yellow to deep red. Peach has thin, fuzzy skin, and it is bigger and harder.
Both apricot and peaches can be used in different recipes, such as salads, jellies, snacks, and cocktails.
You may also check this article Peach vs Nectarine vs Apricot, and find out the main differences between these fruits.
Nutrition
In this article, we will look at the nutritional values of Apricots, raw (3), and Peaches, yellow, raw (4). We will address certain other types in the corresponding sections in terms of comparison.
Vitamins
Fruits provide numerous essential nutrients that the human body cannot synthesize on its own (5). Vitamins are one of these chemicals. Peaches and apricots are no exception: they are high in vitamins.
The apricot is the champion for vitamin content: it has higher levels of practically all vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, E, K, C).
A 100g apricot contains 96 ugs of vitamin A, whereas a 100g peach contains four times less (24ug). Only vitamin B3 is higher in the peach.
Vitamin Comparison
Minerals
Zinc, Phosphorus, and Magnesium levels in apricot and peach are nearly the same.
Copper, Calcium, and Iron are all higher in apricot.
Potassium is abundant in this fruit, with 259mg per 100g compared to 122g in a peach.
Mineral Comparison
Macronutrients
Protein
Fruits are not the first word that comes to mind when it comes to protein, but they may be a delicious way to get an extra serving of it into your diet. Apricots have a higher protein content than peaches. The first has 1.4g of sugar per 100g of fruit, whereas the second contains only 0.9g.
Carbohydrates
All fruits have a high percentage of these compounds. Peaches have fewer carbohydrates than apricots. Peaches have 9.5g of carbs per 100g, while apricots have 11.1g every 100g. Apricots have 1.6g more sugar than peaches. They are higher in sucrose and glucose but lower in fructose.
The dried alternatives of peach and apricot are six times higher in carbohydrates than usual.
Fiber
Apricots have a higher dietary fiber content than peaches. They have 2g of fiber per 100g of fruit, compared to 1.5g in peaches. Apricots are high in both fiber types, but they are notably high in soluble fibers, which help keep blood glucose and cholesterol levels in balance. Peaches are high in insoluble fibers, which help avoid colorectal diseases and maintain good bowel health. Remember that the peel is the richest in fibers. When the peel is removed, most of the fibers are also removed.
Net carbs
The carbohydrates in a food that can be used for energy are net carbs. To calculate it, subtract the amount of fiber from the total carbs in the food.
Let us count the number of net carbs in each of these fruits. It turns out that apricots have 9.1g of net carbs, whereas peaches have 8.0g. Apricots have 11.1g of carbohydrates, 2g of which are fibers. On the other hand, Peaches contain 9.5g of carbs and 1.5g of fibers. In conclusion, peaches are lower in net carbs.
Calories
Apricot is the winner in this concept. It has 48 calories per 100g of fruit, compared to 39 for peaches. As a result, they are both great low-calorie additions to the diet. Sweetened, frozen apricots have approximately two times more calories than raw ones. Dried peaches are champions in this section: they have 239 calories per 100g.
Fats
Both apricots and peaches do not contain significant amounts of lipids. Apricots provide 0.39g of fats per 100g of fruit, and peaches have 0.27g. The two fruits are equal in cholesterol content.
Glycemic Index
Apricot has a lower glycemic index than peach. The glycemic index of a peach is 42, while an apricot has a GI of 34. However, both fruits are considered low-GI foods.
Health Impact Similarities
Cardiovascular health
Consumption of apricots and peaches regularly may help to improve cardiovascular health. They both produce a large number of compounds that help to keep the heart healthy. However, peach effects on the cardiovascular system are more versatile than the apricot ones.
Peaches help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, risk factors for heart disease (6). According to another study, peaches can lower LDL levels in the blood (7). The higher the LDL levels, the greater risk of developing atherosclerosis. Additionally, the chemicals present in the peach help lower the levels of the hormone angiotensin II (7) which is involved in the rising of blood pressure (8).
Because apricots are naturally high in water, they help keep your heart healthy. Apricot consumption helps prevent dehydration, leading to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke (9). The polyphenols in apricots may also help lower the body's cardiovascular risks (10).
Cancer
Both of these fruits produce chemicals that are involved in cancer-preventing. The positive effects of the peach on fighting certain types of cancer are claimed, while the apricot cancer-fighting benefits are debatable.
The peach skin is rich in Caffeic acid (11) and carotenoids which are two potential anticancer compounds. As mentioned above, antioxidants, such as polyphenols, present in peaches inhibit the growth and spreading of cancer cells (12). Another study claims that peaches are involved in breast cancer prevention (13).
The cancer-preventing element in apricots is amygdalin or vitamin B17. It is stored in an apricot kernel. However, the involvement of amygdalin in cancer fighting is just a theory. This chemical is believed to turn into cyanide in the body, which attacks and kills cancer cells (14). You should consider that the FDA does not approve amygdalin as a cancer treatment (15).
Diabetes
Both of these fruits are suitable for people with diabetes. On the other hand, Apricots have more different compounds to manage blood glucose levels than peaches.
Apricot has a low glycemic index, which is essential for blood sugar control. The GI of dried apricots is significantly lower, reaching 30. This indicates that both types of fruit are beneficial to blood glucose levels. Apricots help decrease it in patients with type 2 diabetes (16). Furthermore, some research suggests that apricot fiber can prolong digestion and limit glucose release into the blood, boosting insulin sensitivity.
According to a study, peaches' bioactive compounds significantly impact obesity-related diabetes (17). These substances contain phenolic groups and can help prevent the condition from progressing. What is more, peach gum extracted from the trunks and fruits is involved in diabetes treatment, although the molecular mechanisms are unclear (18).
Antioxidants
These molecules neutralize toxic free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress and damage to all cells (19). As a result, oxidative stress may play a role in developing cardiovascular diseases(20) and obesity (21). Apricots and peaches are antioxidant powerhouses. These two fruits are involved in the antioxidant protection of the body similarly.
Peach is high in phenolics(22) and flavonoids(23), which greatly enhance antioxidant activity. It shows antioxidant action in a short amount of time (24). Fresh peaches with the peel are recommended since the peel contains the most significant antioxidants and is, therefore, more effective against oxidative stress (25).
Apricots are high in antioxidants, including beta carotene, vitamins A, C, and E, and flavonoids like chlorogenic acids. As previously stated, a high flavonoid intake can help to lower oxidative stress levels. Furthermore, vitamin A can stabilize peroxyl radicals and neutralize thiyl radicals, both of which are harmful to the body in high concentrations (26).
Skin health
Both apricots and peaches offer nutrients that assist the maintaining skin health. Apricots produce more essential chemicals that protect your skin than peaches.
UV radiation (ultraviolet light) raises the risk of melanoma (27). It's a dangerous type of skin cancer that can be avoided by using peach flower extract or fruit (28).
Vitamins and carotenoids found in apricots can help to prevent wrinkles. The sun, cigarette smoke, and pollution are the leading causes of wrinkles (29). Apricots contain vitamin C, which aids in the formation of collagen, which gives the skin its strength and flexibility (30). Beta carotene can protect your skin against sunburn (31).
REFERENCES
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4156326/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32523597/
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171697/nutrients
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169928/nutrients
- https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23522824/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25801980/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19861349/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2009.01795.x
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22935143/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21116690/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24745759/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3641647/
- The case against laetrile. The fraudulent cancer remedy
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_167.html
- Study of Dried Apricot Effect on Type 2 Diabetic Patients as a Hypoglycemic Material
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30284108/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28115227/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684512/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28230726/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4307252/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12166993/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26138775/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15857208/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25320458/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10218665/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15617990/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11917253/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18377617/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18086246/
Infographic
Macronutrient Comparison
Fat Type Comparison
Carbohydrate type comparison
Comparison summary table
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| Lower in Sugar |
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| Lower in Sodium |
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| Lower in Saturated Fat |
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| Lower in price |
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| Lower in Glycemic Index |
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| Rich in minerals |
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| Rich in vitamins |
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| Lower in Cholesterol | Equal | ||
All nutrients comparison - raw data values
| Nutrient | |
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Opinion |
| Net carbs | 8.04g | 9.12g |
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| Protein | 0.91g | 1.4g |
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| Fats | 0.25g | 0.39g |
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| Carbs | 9.54g | 11.12g |
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| Calories | 39kcal | 48kcal |
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| Fructose | 1.53g | 0.94g |
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| Sugar | 8.39g | 9.24g |
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| Fiber | 1.5g | 2g |
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| Calcium | 6mg | 13mg |
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| Iron | 0.25mg | 0.39mg |
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| Magnesium | 9mg | 10mg |
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| Phosphorus | 20mg | 23mg |
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| Potassium | 190mg | 259mg |
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| Sodium | 0mg | 1mg |
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| Zinc | 0.17mg | 0.2mg |
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| Copper | 0.068mg | 0.078mg |
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| Manganese | 0.061mg | 0.077mg |
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| Selenium | 0.1µg | 0.1µg | |
| Vitamin A | 326IU | 1279IU |
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| Vitamin A RAE | 16µg | 96µg |
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| Vitamin E | 0.73mg | 0.89mg |
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| Vitamin C | 6.6mg | 10mg |
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| Vitamin B1 | 0.024mg | 0.03mg |
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| Vitamin B2 | 0.031mg | 0.04mg |
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| Vitamin B3 | 0.806mg | 0.6mg |
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| Vitamin B5 | 0.153mg | 0.24mg |
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| Vitamin B6 | 0.025mg | 0.054mg |
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| Folate | 4µg | 9µg |
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| Vitamin K | 2.6µg | 3.3µg |
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| Tryptophan | 0.01mg | 0.015mg |
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| Threonine | 0.016mg | 0.047mg |
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| Isoleucine | 0.017mg | 0.041mg |
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| Leucine | 0.027mg | 0.077mg |
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| Lysine | 0.03mg | 0.097mg |
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| Methionine | 0.01mg | 0.006mg |
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| Phenylalanine | 0.019mg | 0.052mg |
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| Valine | 0.022mg | 0.047mg |
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| Histidine | 0.013mg | 0.027mg |
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| Saturated Fat | 0.019g | 0.027g |
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| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.067g | 0.17g |
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| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.086g | 0.077g |
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Which food is preferable for your diet?
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| Low Fats diet |
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| Low Carbs diet |
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| Low Calories diet |
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| Low Glycemic Index diet |
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People also compare
Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
Comparison summary
References
All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.
- Peach - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169928/nutrients
- Apricot - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171697/nutrients
All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.