Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

Superfoods are foods that provide health benefits far greater than their generally recognized nutritional value. They tend to be nutrient dense, low calorie (not always) and promote good health.

One such Superfood is the not-so-humble apple. Perhaps our forebears knew this when they said “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and similar phrases.

Apples are full of antioxidants, and soluble fiber, and are high in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C.

Benefits of apples can be lowered cholesterol, healthy skin, and a healthy digestive system. Apples may also help with weight loss or control and improve diabetics’ control of blood sugars. Other benefits that have been attributed to apples include protection against Alzheimer’s disease, and prevention of cancer of the lung, colon, breast and liver.

Apples contain a particular flavonoid called phloridzin which is thought to increase bone density and help protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis.  Apples are the only place that phloridzin is found.

Apples have also been recommended for arthritis, headaches, anemia, insomnia, gallbladder stones, inflammation of the bladder, worms, halitosis, asthma and obesity.

Many people have found that sweeter varieties of apples help decrease the symptoms of acid reflux. This is because the tartaric and malic acid in apples neutralizes stomach acids. An alternative to an apple for acid reflux is apple cider vinegar (raw, organic) – take a tablespoon in a glass of water before eating but this does not work for everyone. Apple cider vinegar is also reputed to have other health benefits.

Preliminary research shows that apples have an impact on bacteria in the digestive tract which in turn changes metabolism in the large intestine. This potentially provides further health benefits so we wait for further research in this area.

“The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less.” ~Arthur Miller

And we wouldn't want the apple "stuck back on the tree of knowledge." Perhaps we will "see" more and more in the years to come about the value of apples and of Superfoods in general. An apple a day may not keep the doctor away completely but you could be well on track for needing him or her a lot less.

Does It Add Up?

Like many things, it’s not what you do once, or even for half an hour once a week that makes the difference, it’s what you do overall in the 168 hours you have each week.

As far as nutrition goes, it’s what you eat at 21 meals and possibly 7, 14 or 21 snacks each week.

There are 8760 hours in a year. In those 8760 hours you are likely to have 1095 meals, and possibly between 365 and 1095 snacks, and consume somewhere around 700,000 and 1,000,000 calories. Any more than that and you are putting on weight.

Purely in energy terms, you can choose to consume those calories by having ample quantities of vegetables, especially leafy greens, with some fish, chicken or steak, or …. 

… or you can have a much, much smaller quantity of pasta or fast food washed down with soda to consume the same number of calories. It’s your choice. But if you consume your calories as fast foods and soda your body is not getting the nutrients it needs and deserves.

                        

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Eating in the U.S.A.

I have spent only a matter of weeks in the U.S. on two separate visits (excluding passing through via L.A. airport), both times on the west coast, plus a week or so in Hawaii. I found the American people friendly and helpful.

However - I was stunned, absolutely “stunned” at the quantity of food dished up when I ate out.  For example, in Santa Monica we had breakfast out and the quantity of food dished up was sickening. A small quantity of what we ordered balanced on a huge pile of wedge-sized fries. And this was for breakfast.

I love my food, and have enjoyed eating food around the world. America is the only country in the world I have been where the sight of the quantity of food on the plate made me feel ill. I guess one could adjust, but one’s stomach adjusts also by expanding rapidly.

Fresh vegetables were illusive, as was fresh fruit. I don’t think I found leafy greens anywhere. Even frozen vegetables were hard to find.

Also, I was so glad to escape the sweet food. The food manufacturers seem to put sugar into everything, including it in foods that should have a savory flavor, such as bread.  My taste buds were just not used to it and I could pick up the taste of sugar very easily. I couldn’t wait to return to sugar-free food, or at the very least, food that didn’t taste sweet.

I realized why it was so difficult for people to lose weight in America.

If you live in the U.S. seriously consider nourishing your body in a way that helps you live a longer, healthier life. That means purchasing fresh foods and carefully preparing meals yourself.


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