Wednesday, May 25, 2016

AN APPLE A DAY

Really!  An apple a day is great improvement to your health.  I think this was one of my first nutritional lessons from Mom.  I believe it to be true and don't you just love how it rhymes?  


Did you know there are 7,500 varieties of apples in the world?  2,500 varieties of apples are grown here in the United States, but only about 100 kinds are grown commercially.

During my short tenure on earth, my taste in apples has changed.  When I was really young, it was all about Red Delicious.  When I went out on my own, it changed to Granny Smith.  It seems like every year a new variety catches my eye.  Fuji.  Braeburn.  Gala.  Pink Lady. And now ... Honey Crisp!!

My Maui friend Leslie turned me on to this choice.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  This apple has been my favorite for a few years.  And it's not just me.  I served some thin slices at the coffee group last week and several ladies asked what kind it was.  It's a Catch 22 ... these are the most expensive apples EVER.  But I allow myself this luxury.

My mind just swirled around apples.  I had to Google apples.  While they may not keep the doctor away, they are really good for you!


1. Apples are filled with soluble fiber  (5 grams)
    • This fiber has been shown to reduce intestinal disorders, including diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and possibly some types of cancer.
    • Helps control insulin levels by releasing sugar slowly into the bloodstream.
    • Cleanses and detoxifies, which helps eliminate heavy metals, such as lead and mercury.
2. Apple pectin helps reduce cholesterol levels by lowering insulin secretion.

3. In two studies researchers found that eating five apples a week lowered the risk for respiratory diseases like asthma.

4. According to Chinese Medicine: Apples strengthen the heart, quench thirst, lubricate the lungs, decrease mucous and increase body fluids.

5.  Apple cider vinegar can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

6. Studies indicate that eating apples daily can reduce skin diseases.

7. According to a Brazilian study, eating an apple before a meal helped women lose 33 percent more weight than those who didn’t.

8. An apple has only 50-80 calories and has no fat or sodium.


9. Apples are packed with vitamins C, A , and flavonoids and with smaller amounts of phosphorus, iron,  and calcium.

Best of all ... I learned that an apple a day keeps the  pharmacist away!  Researchers discovered that people who ate a daily apple were 27 per cent less likely to need to visit the pharmacist for drugs.  That's a pretty big number!




7 comments:

  1. If you have to have a vice, a healthy, high priced apple is the perfect choice. They grow Honey Crisp around here if I remember correctly. I remember one of the vendors at the farmers market singing their praises.

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, I have many high priced vices ... it should simply be more apples!

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  2. Honey Crisp are my favorites and in plenty around here in Michigan. I don't eat nearly enough apples!!! I think I will start with one a day!!! Thanks for the reminder!

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  3. I was here the other day but could not figure out how to post a comment from my phone. I can't ever remember my password for my old google account. Anyway.

    I love Honey Crisps. I found them a couple of years ago. They are expensive but so delicious. Like you, I allow myself the indulgence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't do any posting from my phone either. And now that I "check" each reply BEFORE posting, it's even more confusing.

      I finally invested in a password keeper. And pray that the hackers never get in there!

      Delete
  4. Honey crisp are our favorite also! I'm not sure how we discovered them, it's been about a year. Just yesterday I was getting a pedicure and Brent texted me to please buy more apples on my way home. We have been running through alot of apples lately on our healthy eating plan. Hope you are doing well JB :-D

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    Replies
    1. I'm not doing great on losing weight, although slowly but surely I guess. I hope to lose enough to be noticed by the time you come back!

      Delete

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