Apples

Apples are fantastic cleansers of the body and real powerhouses in terms of vitamins, minerals, cancer fighting flavanoids and phenolics. Fresh, wholesome, full of fiber and nourishment, an apple tree in the backyard would be a great investment for the health of your family.

Apples help achieve that ‘school girl complexion’ as they are high in the soluble fiber pectin. Pectin moves through intestines like a gel, absorbing toxins and cleaning up ‘bad’ cholesterol. Removing toxins at an early stage means they are less able to circulate and cause skin problems. Reducing the toxic load before it reaches the liver frees the liver for activities that build our health rather than the ‘fire fighting’ activity of detoxification.
 

They are also soothing for our intestinal system and have a protective function in the bowel; they help keep the healthy bacteria strong which leads to better digestive health within the intestinal tract. It’s the good bacteria which pieces together some essential fatty acids in the intestines, actually manufacturing things we absolutely need for healthy skin. The humble apple also has around 3 grams of insoluble fiber in its skin. The insoluble fibre acts as a broom, sweeping waste through your digestive system for removal.
 

Apples are a great source of the flavanoid Quercitin which is a powerful antioxidant and preventer of inflammation in the body, and Quercitin has some unique anti-cancer properties. It has been shown to have some effect in the prevention of gene mutations. Gene mutation is one of the ways cancer begins in the body and can be caused by toxic damage (amongst other things). There have been studies specifically looking at the effect of Quercitin in incidences of coronary heart disease and lung cancer. The results have been favourable, in one instance the risk of lung cancer being halved within one test group. This may be due to the protective activities of the Quercitin in its role of preventing toxins that can damage genes.
 

Apples also contain the antioxidants vitamin C, Beta Carotene and another group of disease fighting components called phenolics. Phenolics are a new area of research but indications suggest they are strong antioxidants. Apples are second only to cranberries as a prime source of these antioxidants.

Apples are a fantastic food and are a great source of the more familiar vitamins C and B, and minerals of calcium, phosphorous, iron and silicon.

Information supplied by Steph Askeur
Fresh-cut enthusiast