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An Apple A Day...
 Fall is apple season. All around the country there are apple festivals celebrating this amazing fruit. There are many reasons why this fruit is celebrated. Many myths and legends surround this symbolic fruit. The temptation of Adam and Eve, the journey of Johnny Appleseed, and Mother Earth gifting Zeus and his bride with a tree of golden apples on their wedding day are just a few examples. Apples have been symbols of love, beauty, luck, health, comfort, pleasure, temptation, virility, and fertility for very good reason!
There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide. They are rich in many nutrients which people have known for centuries, keeping us healthy and vital. Some of the healing nutrients in apples include antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent oxidation in the body which prevents cell and tissue damage. Cell and tissue damage is the main aging effect in the body. The skins are rich in flavanoids which have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-allergic, and anti-oxidant properties. Apples also have a high level of fiber both soluble and insoluble.
The phytochemicals in apples help slow the aging process. Apples help reduce the risk factor for cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cataracts, osteoporosis, and urinary tract infections. Two Cornell studies have shown that apples help improve brain health and decreases the risk for breast cancer. Most of the flavanoids are found in the skin of the apple, giving them their beautiful colors.
One of the most powerful flavanoid in apples is known as quercetin. This is what makes "eating an apple a day" so true. Quercetin is found in apples, onions, black tea, and berries. It reduces risks of cancer and heart attacks. It can help control asthma and allergies as it is a powerful antihistamine and reduces inflammation in the body. Those suffering from Crohn's disease will find relief from juicing apples. Quercetin also helps prevent gout attacks as well as reduces the inflammation process in arthritis and improves prostate health.
Another major component in apples is a high level of pectin. Pectin is a soluble fiber that binds to cholesterol, toxins, and heavy metals and carries them out of the body. It increases bowel elimination and helps prevent colon cancer by eliminating the toxins from the bowel. Pectin also increases acidity in the large intestine therefore making it healthier and less likely to feed cancer cells.
Malic acid in the flesh of the apple helps the body to use energy more efficiently. Eat an apple in the afternoon when you feel tired and see how revived you feel. It also helps improve lung function which also is a relief for asthma.
Any way you eat apples is beneficial from juicing, to baking, to eating raw. Apples can help in a weight loss program by adding fiber to the diet, therefore making you less hungry. They are low on the glycemic index so they help regulate blood sugar. This also helps reduce sugar cravings. Just eat an apple 30 minutes before a meal and see how much better you feel. They also help the body to use less insulin making apples very beneficial for diabetics.
Teach your children to eat an apple a day. It is a very healthy habit that will benefit them for a lifetime. Apples are great to juice as they combine nicely with most other fruits and vegetables adding just enough sweetness. They are also fun to bake…just add a little cinnamon, nutmeg, and raw sugar or stevia and bake until tender. I like to eat them sliced with a little peanut butter on them.
So…"Eat your apple a day to keep the doctor away!"
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Lisa Metzgar, PhD Lisa Metzgar, PhD, has been in the alternative health field since 1996.
She received her BA in Biology from UCSD, is a certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and received her PhD in Holistic Nutrition. Lisa has taught body mind retreats in San Diego, Seattle, and Australia and currently has a practice in Reno, NV where she does nutritional counseling. Lisa's passion is to educate families in a healthy lifestyle. Visit her website Concepts In Wellness or e-mail her at lisa (at) conceptsinwellness.com
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