The apple has
a long storied history; From Adam and Eve to Johnny Appleseed to grandma’s
secret recipe for apple pie. And we’ve all heard the adage; An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. (In
Western Christian art, the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge is commonly depicted
as the apple. This depiction may have originated as a Latin pun: By eating the malum/apple,
Eve contracted mālum/evil. Nonetheless, its association has been
entrenched in our culture.)
Can it be true that this simple fruit can hold the
key to health and longevity? The apple can help lower blood sugar. It slows
down carbohydrate digestion by lowering the rate of glucose absorption from our
digestive tract. The apple stimulates the pancreas to put out more insulin
while the polyphenols in apples help to activate the cell insulin receptors. In
this way, apples help facilitate passage of sugar from our bloodstream up into
our cells.
This innocent
orb is a powerful antioxidant as it has a good supply of vitamin C. Quercetin adds
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antiviral properties.
Researchers at Cornell University have identified several
compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities
against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast.
The fiber in
the apple is both insoluble and soluble. The insoluble fiber helps to regulate
bowel movements; either firming diarrhea or softening constipation. Apple
pectin (also an antioxidant) can also be helpful for people with colitis,
irritable bowel disease, and other digestive disorders. Soluble fiber keeps the
insides of the blood vessels clean and helps to lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.
Intake of apples is now known to significantly alter amounts of two bacteria (Clostridiales
and Bacteriodes) in the large intestine. As a result, the intestines
work more efficiently.
Malic acid found in apples increases energy levels
through its involvement in the Krebs cycle. Malic acid is a chelator and is able
to bind to potentially toxic metals like aluminum, lead, and mercury and
eliminate them. Heavy metal overload has been linked to serious health problems
like liver disease and brain disorders such as Alzheimer's.
Eating apples helps
maintain oral hygiene as it stimulates the production of saliva which reduces
the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth. It’s a natural mouthwash.
Bragg’s apple
cider vinegar is a staple in my pantry. My favorite way to use it is by
diluting 1 part organic unfiltered apple juice in 2 parts water. Then add 1-2
capfuls of Bragg’s ACV, depending on your palate. This not only dilutes the
sugar content of the apple juice but it also gives the drink an extra zip. It
tastes more like apple cider. The ACV is fermented; loaded with good bacteria
and digestive enzymes. For indigestion/acid reflux (see prior blog There’s No Such Thing as Acid Reflux) use
2 capfuls in a shot of water. Toss that back quick, over the tongue, and in a
few minutes the stomach pressure will be gone.
But maybe the
biggest secret concerning apples is kept within the seeds. How many of you eat
the entire apple; core and seeds? The seeds are high in Vitamin B 17 also known as Laetrile or Amygdalin. Its ability to protect
us from cancer is noted in the study of the Hunzas, an isolated tribe in
Afghanistan. This population has a natural diet which supplies on the
average between 50 to 75 milligrams of Vitamin B17 a day through apricot seeds.
The Hunzas represent a population that has been cancer free for over 900 years
of its existence.
Are you eating
an apple a day?
