Palisade peaches have ripened and finally reached Colorado markets. There is nothing like biting into a cool, sweet, juicy Colorado peach on a hot August afternoon. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, peaches are considered cooling in nature and sweet and sour in flavor. They are linked to the Earth element and late summer, making it a fruit that aids digestion, particularly the stomach and large intestine. Peaches have a moistening effect, building body fluids and are useful to moisten the lungs and intestines. They treat thirst; dry throat; dry cough; constipation, particularly chronic constipation in the elderly. They may have an effect on relieving high blood pressure, perhaps due to their favorable sodium-potassium ratio. The peach kernel is used in herbal formulas to clear congealed blood, including painful menstruation and uterine fibroids. Ripe peaches are rich in vitamins A, B, and C betacarotene, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. So, don't hesitate to bite into a luscious ripe peach.