Apples

We all know the old saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' and seeing apples are in season right now I thought I'd take a closer look at this amazing fruit.

First here is a list of some of the nutritional properties of apples

• low in calories and contain no saturated fat or cholesterol
• contain good qantities of vitamin C and beta carotene
• high in fibre and contain both soluble and insoluble fibre
• contain high levels of infection fighting antioxidants and flavaonoids
• significant levels of B vitamins including B6
• small amounts of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and calcium

Some of the amazing health benefits of eating apples are:

• Apples have been show to assist with weight management.  One reason for this is that eating an apple gives a sense of fullness that means we don't go hunting for more food.
• Apples have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• They can assist in lowering cholesterol.
• Research has shown they are helpful for bone protection due to the flavanoid phloridzin being present.
• The quercetin, found in the apple skin, has been shown to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
• Research has also shown that apples are useful for asthma prevention.
• Antioxidants in apples are linked to cancer prevention and research has shown that consumption of apples can reduce the risks of developing a wide range of cancers including lung, breast and bowel.
• Apples can help to regulate blood sugar and are very helpful for diabetes management.
• Antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body.

When eating apples it is best to eat the skin because it contains the most nutrients.  Apples are the perfect food for on the go and are great for school lunchboxes as well.  Although eating the whole fruit provides the highest nutritional value, there are studies that show consuming apple juice also has significant health benefits.

Ayurvedic medicine encourages certain dosha types to eat fruit cooked.  In winter there is nothing better than eating still warm stewed apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.  I've found when stewing apples that a combination of red and green give the perfect taste. I simply stew the apples in water and don't need to add any sugar for them to be sweet enough.

Apples are also very important in myth and folklore.  In Greek Mythology there are many tales of Golden Apples involving Heracles, Atalanta and Paris.  In the Celtic legends apples are linked to Arthur and Avalon.  The Bible story of Adam and Eve portrays the apple as the forbidden fruit.  In Norse myth they are the fruit of immortality.  The most famous fairy tale involving apples is Snow White where she is given a poison apple which puts her to sleep until the apple later falls out of her mouth, or the prince arrives to kiss her, depending on which version of the story you read.  Apples are seen by some as a magical fruit and one reason for this is that when cut in half the core forms the shape of a pentagram or five pointed star.