Healthy Food Series – Apple

Happy Tuesday y’all! It’s time for the weekly Healthy Food Series on iScriblr.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
– Benjamin Franklin

Well yes, here I am, yet again with another “super food” to wipe us all off out feet! Healthy Food Series on iScriblr has honestly been an informative and “social enriching” ride so far and I am ecstatic with the enlightening journey – which has not only been “health conscious” but super communicative and newsy at the same time!

Our star of the day for Healthy Food Series is – APPLE!

HISTORY

The origins of the apple fruit tree are Asian, specifically in the region of the central west corresponding with modern-day Kazakhstan, and archaeological evidence locates the Tien Shan mountain forests as the probable origin of all known apple cultivators. Around 10,000 years ago the first human settlements started to form across the near east, India, and further east in China. The ancestor of modern domestic apples, from the tree “malus sieversii”, were already known to nomadic peoples from the region and as agriculture started to develop so too did the art of growing orchards, the apple tree being the first to be grown domestically (“malus domestica”) from seed and studied.
In the United States the most famous mention of apples in popular culture is the story of Johnny Appleseed, a Massachusetts born eccentric who traveled for forty years around the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio giving small bags of apple seeds to anyone he met, who was travelling to the new west. Born John Chapmen, he was a devout man who considered it his duty to help spread the Lord’s message, and who believed passionately that if America was filled with apple trees then no man, woman, or child would ever be hungry again.
Apparently, as one of the most cultivated and consumed fruits in the world, Apples are continuously being praised as a “miracle food”.

HEALTH BENEFITS

A collection of research studies suggests that apples may well be one of the most healthy foods for you to include in your daily diet. Here are a few health benefits of Apple, that are supported by science –

1 Apples may aid weight loss in several ways. They’re also particularly filling due to their high fiber content.
2 Apples promote heart health in several ways. They’re high in soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol. They also have polyphenols, which are linked to lower blood pressure and stroke risk. Flavonoids can help prevent heart disease by lowering blood pressure, reducing LDL oxidation and acting as antioxidants
3 Eating apples is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This is possibly due to their polyphenol antioxidant content.
4 Apples have several naturally occurring compounds that may help fight cancer. Observational studies have linked them to a lower risk of cancer and death from cancer.
5 Apples contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help regulate immune responses and protect against asthma.
6 Apples contain compounds that may help protect the stomach lining from injury due to NSAID painkillers.

NUTRIENT CONTENT

Nutrition Facts – Apples, raw, with skin – 100 grams
*Daily values are based on 2000 calorie diet.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular type of vinegar in the natural health community. It’s made by fermenting the sugar from apples, which turns them into acetic acid, an active ingredient in vinegar. It is commonly used in cooking, baking, salad dressings, and as a preservative and since there’s a lot of acid in it, drinking vinegar straight isn’t recommended! If you’re looking to take some for health reasons, most people recommend adding one to two tablespoons to water or tea. My favorite brand is – Bragg USDA Gluten Free Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, easily available at Amazon.

RECIPE

There can’t be a better way to have an Apple than being able to bite into its juiciness directly! Make sure that you wash your apple under running water, and scrub the outside of the skin with a clean towel to clean it from excess pollen, pesticides and dust from the store. The skin of the apple is the highest in fiber and a compound called “ursolic acid” – which has been linked to weight loss, respiratory health, and blood sugar regulation – so, keep the skin on to achieve maximum utilization of this “wondrous fruit!”  Well, for the experimenting kinds –  you can check out for delectable Apple Blended Recipes at my favorite food blog – CookieAndKate!

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY AN APPLE? 

As per Healthline – “Apples are incredibly good for you, and eating them is linked to a lower risk of many major diseases.
For the greatest benefits, eat the whole fruit — both skin and flesh!”

Here’s to clean living and a healthy lifestyle! Cheers!

Love,

Disclaimer : The facts and information have been collected/collated from Healthline, Google and Britannica.