Here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, autumn has arrived. There’s a blush of gold across the mountainsides and the reds of the maples flare along the ridge lines.
Fall always means apple time with a visit to the sweetly scented farm store and a bite into the freshest, crispest tangy Gala apple, juice running down my happy chin.
It’s a cherished rite I’ve celebrated for much of my life.
The pleasure is amplified by the multitude health benefits of eating apples.
Apples, like all fruits and vegetables, have antioxidant properties that prevent DNA injury and the mental and physical deterioration usually associated with aging.
New research from Cornell University shows that apples contain powerful phytochemicals that may help inhibit breast cancer cell growth. Flavonoid antioxidants, including quercetin and catechins, help apples rank high on the antioxidant list.
Excellent Reasons to Enjoy an Apple a Day Starting Today!
Lung disease: Those same catcechins found in apples help counter serious lung ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent studies also show a relationship between the amount of flavonoid- and quercetin-rich foods you eat, like apples, and protection against lung cancer.
Alzheimer’s: Regular consumption of apple juice helps us maintain mental sharpness and may even delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from the University of Massachusetts.
Heart disease and stroke: Apples are excellent sources of soluble fiber that has been shown to decrease the risk of all types of heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Furthermore, the flavonoids in apples not only decrease the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol, they also reduce the risk of dying of a heart attack, according to a long-term Finnish study. Apples also help lower cholesterol by helping retain quercetin in your blood, helping usher out harmful fats.
Various types of cancer: Numerous studies have shown that dietary flavonoids, like those found in apples, are protective against several types of cancer, including bladder and lung cancers associated with smoking. Men who eat the most apples have also been found to have a lower rate of prostate cancer.
References:
1Liu, J., Dong, H., Chen, B., Zhao, P. and Liu, R.H. Fresh apples suppress mammary carcinogenesis, proliferative activity, and induce apoptosis in the mammary tumors of the Sprague-Dawley rat. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57 (1): 297-304, 2009.
2Chan, A and Shea, T. Dietary Supplementation with Apple Juice Decreases Endogenous Amyloid 03B2 Levels in Murine Brain. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 16:1, 2009.
into the freshest, crispest tangy Gala apple, juice running down my happy chin.
