by Elizabeth Renter
Natural Society, 11 June 2013
For a long time, bananas held the crown as the “perfect food”, but lately it seems we’ve been adding more natural foods to that list. Avocados are just one fruit that has been blessed with this ‘perfect food’ label. Now, the fruit and vegetable superpowers should make room for yet another star to share their throne—the apple.
If there ever was a “classic” fruit, one whose popularity and benefits never wane, it’s the apple. Apples don’t only keep the doctor away, they can provide a wealth of varying health benefits—from weight loss to heavy metal chelation. They are able to do this, in part, because of the various beneficial compounds within the fruit.
The Many Beneficial Compounds in Apples
Fiber found within apples is known as pectin. This fiber is able to lower cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugar, and help ward off diabetes and insulin resistance. Like most high-fiber foods, the pectin in apples also helps fill you up, making you feel full for a longer period and discouraging overeating.Another powerful compound in apples is the flavonoid quercetin. This antioxidant is found particularly concentrated in apple peels, where it gives the apple its rich color. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and a natural antihistamine that has been found to combat issues like cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and much more.
Water-soluble polyphenols are often found in apples as well. These are another form of powerful antioxidants with numerous benefits. As reported by Natural News, “Diets high in polyphenols are associated with lower cancer rates, better heart health and enhanced immune function.”
These components, and more, work together to deliver a synergy of amazing health benefits. Among those are:
As if this wasn’t enough, apples are also valuable in detoxing. The pectin within helps remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body where they can cause inflammation and disease. This is called chelation. High pectin fruit like green apples, eaten daily, can help keep these toxins from making themselves at home within your body.
An apple a day can definitely keep the doctor away, particularly when the rest of your lifestyle is similarly healthful. Eat apples on your salads, plain with natural peanut butter, or in curries and stir-frys. Perhaps most simply, eat them in their natural state as they make a perfect portable snack.
Additional Sources:
University of Maryland Medical Center
Pubmed/18433105
Source:
Natural Society
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