“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” they say.
Apples are full of goodness. Packed with vitamins, flavonoids, and soluble fibre. Of all the fruits, apples are the richest source of the dietary fibre, pectin. Aside from improving bowel movement, apple pectin has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer and to actually draw out the bad cholesterol LDL. This study shows that apple pectin also improves fecal environment.
More good bacteria = better gut flora = better health.
What are Phytochemicals?
Phytochemicals are a host of compounds made by plants that have a beneficial affect on human health. Some commonly known ones include beta carotene, ascorbic acid, and folic acid. Consuming fruits and vegetables is a great way to enjoy the antioxidant actions of these compounds. Studies support that certain phytochemicals block carcinogens.
Apples are rich with phytochemicals – 385 of them, according to the Supreme Science Qigong Centre. Of course, the actual number varies depending on season, growing condition, and handling process. Apples grown in sunlight, for example, contain more phytochemicals. What an apple has are flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin. These have antioxidant properties, which means they scavenge on free radicals, which are byproducts of the body’s chemical processes that cause damage to the cell and DNA.
Be sure to consume the skin, where the highest concentrations of phytochemicals are.
Quercetin has protective effects against a variety of conditions, from cardio-vascular to metabolic syndrome. It is good for the heart and lungs, helps to regulate blood sugar, inhibits the LDL from building up in the bloodstream, and may be neuroprotective.
It is believed that disease stems from inflammation and with quercetin as an anti-inflammatory superstar, this phytochemical makes the apple one powerful little fruit.
Apples, According to Chinese Medicine
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Apple is cooling, sweet, sour (often the missing taste!), and strengthens the Qi. Acting on the Spleen and Stomach channels, eating apples supports the functions of these organ systems, which are key for balancing Qi.
Apples as a Hangover remedy?
Detoxify and protect your brain cells with fresh apple juice. Feel free to mix it with orange, mandarin, or watermelon juice, also known to dispel alcohol retention. Try juicing one apple and one large handful of watermelon in lieu of coffee the morning after.
What else?
What about reducing mental fatigue, relieving thirst, and improving poor appetite.
Did you know? Different apple colours represent different parts of the body – red for the heart and vessels; green for the liver; and yellow for the eyes.
Green apples are believed in TCM to be detoxifying, good for teeth and bone growth, and help with depression.
Apples' Other Benefits
Eating as nature intended is the best – whole apples, whole eggs…Nature is pretty smart and the whole is really greater than the sum. Synergy is found throughout nature, as is balance.
There is definitely good reason to eat an apple whole – no need to peel the skin or leave the core. The peel is where the antioxidants are at and apple seeds are high in Vitamin B17, which are also found in strawberries, cashews, and apricot kernels.
Take a tiny knife and exercise some patience, score the apple seeds and enjoy the husk-less seed – a tip from Neurological Chiropractor Dr Paul Masters.
According to biochemist Dr Ernst Krebs, who researched Vitamin B17 extensively, B17 exhibits selective toxicity. B17 is safe for normal cells, not for cancer cells. That’s because only cancer cells have the enzyme beta-glucosidase to break down the B17 into components, including the toxin hydrogen cyanide. Vitamin B17 was once touted as treatment for cancer and cell metastasis. But there is no need (and not advisable) to eat a pound of apple seeds.
Three apples a day, along with the seeds, is the recommendation for being cancer-protective. Don’t forget seeds contain life force too!
Sources
“Apples with Different Colours Have Different Effects.” (Pin Ming Health.com) May 30 2010
“Apples: The Live Longer Fruit” by Dr Maoshing Ni (www.Acupuncture.com)
“Apple and Lung Function” www.PingMingHealth.com
Health Benefits Research Summary 7-10 – US Apple Assocation
