Apples—Health Food For REAL!!!
Growing up in an apple raising area I have taken the value of apples for granted. My Grandfather had apple and peach orchards, and I just thought apples were grown for a crop, and were good almost any way they were prepared. Little did I know apples have as much nutritional value as they do.
Ben Franklin, in Poor Richards Almanac wrote;…”an apple a day will keep the doctor away” Long before Ben wrote those words the Greeks believed apples to be a cure all…… Did you know that apples are so high in Vitamin C that they are recommended for those who need to increase the intake of C, better than a pill I think. They also are virtually free of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Fiber content is high too, in fact so high that the apple is credited for helping reduce bad cholesterol levels.
Pectin makes up about 25% of the fiber in an apple, that fiber helps reduce the absorption of fat, and in turn the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels are reduced, while the good cholesterol levels are raised. One French study says the cholesterol improvement is so great it can reduce heart disease risk by around 50%. That is a great risk reduction and should ot be taken lightly.
We would need to eat two or three apples a day. Sounds like a lot, but oh my goodness the benefit. Lower blood cholesterol, reduction in blood pressure, and that would keep blood sugar levels steady, is that a good return on the investment in couple of apples? Think of the reduction in doctor bills and did I mention the other benefits…the apple is an appetite suppressant, an all around cold and virus fighter, and …a natural tooth brush.
Caution though…apple juice is no substitute. the entire apple must be eaten to produce all that health advantage. So when you eat an apple eat the whole thing —skin and all.
When you buy apples check to see that they are not bruised, firm and emit a sweet aroma. Many folks, including my Grandmother would argue the type of apple to use in a pie, but, most of us agree that the Red Delicious is the best eaten raw. I also like the Golden Delicious. So try the apples at the store, at the farmer’s market, or… if you are fortunate enough—right out of the orchard.