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Health September 2019

Eat Right Now

When Mighty Apples Drop from Trees

By Wendell Fowler

A member of the rose family, apple’s phytochemicals can reduce plaque buildup in the arteries and the cancer-causing effects of carcinogens. Phytochemicals in apple skin inhibit the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43%.Their proanthocyanin content helps prevent heart disease and diabetes.

If you only eat crunchy, juicy apples in apple pie or Pop Tarts rather than from earth's orchard apothecary, you might reconsider. The fruit of the apple tree has been used as food, medicine, and ritual since ancient times.

Apparently, Eve had a devil of a time tempting Adam to eat fruits and vegetables. When you think about it, the first commandment was Eve telling Adam, “Eat this apple or else!” In mythology and folklore, apples were a means to immortality; an emblem of fruitfulness; an offering in suitor contests; a means of divination and a magical cure.

In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, crisp apples symbolized love and beauty. When ancient Romans conquered England they brought apple cultivation with them. It is believed they took apple trees and cultivated apples with them into England as they conquered and made applesauce out of the country.

About 1629, both apple seeds and trees were brought to America by John Endicott, an early governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Nurseryman Johnny Appleseed promoted apples as he carried seeds with him wherever he traveled; planting then in thinly settled parts of the country; mostly for distilling strong drink. The first apple pie was reputed to have been baked at Valley Forge.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is American as apple pie. Apples skin contains orchards of plant nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber and a constellation of antioxidants science says can prevent many of today’s chronic diseases. Fresh, apples contain vitamin C, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, (folate) riboflavin, potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium and fiber; it definitely is undeserving of the metaphorical “forbidden fruit” stigma. The National Cancer Institute reports antioxidants found in apples reduce risk of lung cancer by as much as 50% – however, only when they are fresh, not canned or baked into oblivion.

Bob on this: The forbidden fruit’s nutritional profile fosters healthy lungs, prevents heart disease, stroke, and various cancers, assists weight loss, relieves constipation, and promotes
dental health. Routinely eating fresh apples can lower blood pressure, glucose levels, bad cholesterol levels and risk for Alzheimer’s. The crunchy heart-shaped orbs support seniors’ immune system as well.

A member of the rose family, apple’s phytochemicals can reduce plaque buildup in the arteries and the cancer-causing effects of carcinogens. Phytochemicals in apple skin inhibit the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43%.Their proanthocyanin content helps prevent heart disease and diabetes.

Then there’s pectin in apple skin. Apples contain 78 grams of pectin per 100 grams of edible fruit. Make note, this only applies when one leaves on the skin. Pectin can reduce the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver; it also slows and aids digestion, and the rise of blood sugar, making it ideal for diabetics. People should see a doctor if diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, and other gastrointestinal symptoms recur or are persistent in nature, as there may be an underlying problem needing identification and treatment.

Intended for much more than being asphyxiated in warm caramel, Mayo Clinic indicates the quercetin abundant in apples helps prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. Apple hide contains about 4 milligrams of quercetin, an antioxidant which prevents oxygen molecules from damaging individual cells, which leads to cancer.

Quercetin belongs to a group of plant pigment flavonoids that combats "free radical" molecules that incubate disease. Research suggests quercetin may help prevent Parkinsonism as well. A study on mice at Cornell University found quercetin in apples protect brain cells from the sort of free radical damage leading to Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Quercetin may also help ward off cataracts and macular degeneration, control asthma, maintain health when suffering from Crohn’s disease, prevent current gout attacks, and speed up healing of recurrent heartburn, or GERD.

Fibrous apples are low-glycemic and don’t spike blood sugar. Even though they’re rich in natural sugar (fructose) the nutritional makeup of an apple prevents the body from releasing too much insulin. Cornell University food scientists say phytochemicals found the flesh, particularly in the skin, provide the fruit's anti-oxidant and anti-cancer benefits.

Forage seasonal apple juice from your local orchard. However, ask the grower if they wash, sanitize, and filter the nectar to prevent E. coli or salmonella. Some orchards use fallen apples because they are sugary ripe and easy to harvest, but pathogens lie in wait.

Naturopaths pronounce Mother Nature’s garden provides prevention, cure, and immunity from every malady under the sun. Pure and simple: fresh off the tree, delightful apples are one of the most popular, vitamin-packed plant foods in the world. Grab the family, visit your local orchards, and create health when apples fall from trees.

 

Chef Wendell hosts Eat Right Now on WISH TV 8 CBS Indianapolis. He can be reached at 317-372-2592 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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