I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” Well Praise God, so far so true. When I hit my mid twenties, without a clue, I use to begin my morning with an apple. I had no clue why that was my fruit of choice, I just knew I had to get off those oh so delicious banana nut muffins. I felt some kind of heavy-fluffiness (for lack of better words) the following day every time I choose muffins for breakfast, and it DID NOT feel good!
I use to hear that you gain weight sitting at a desk 6-7 hours out of the day and this was my first office desk job. (nail bitter) LOL I ate considerably healthy (let my husband tell it all I cooked was baked chicken, brown rice and broccoli) but I did enjoy my MUFFINS! I didn’t want to become a statistic because this woman here, enjoys having a waist line. So I decided to do something about those muffins before they became a problem.
The SOLUTION… APPLES!!!! I am the type who solves by “out of sight, out of mind.” I told myself not to purchase anymore muffins. The temptation can’t even be at reach, but I needed a substitute, something that was FRESH and NOT processed. I wanted LIVE food. It just so happened I may have been craving a muffin or something sweet and I had nothing processed around. I searched for something with at least a little bit of sweetness to it and WHAM there was that beautiful APPLE. My taste for apples had completely changed. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed apples growing up, but because I hadn’t had anything processed, the sweetness and crunch of that apple changed my life!!! HAHAHA I am laughing as I type this, because if I’m not ready to cook for the kids, and they start with the “I’M HUNGRY” I say… Go get an apple.
I say all this to say, I’m glad we eat live food, apples and other fruits and veggies as snacks and we hardly EVER see the doctor for sickness. PRAISE GOD. Our doctor said to us, you have some healthy children, I don’t EVER see you guys here. So today I want to leave you with some of the benefits of eating an apple or two or three a day. 🙂
1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.
2. Avoid Alzheimer’s
A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.
3. Protect against Parkinson’s
Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.
4. Curb all sorts of cancers
Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
5. Decrease your risk of diabetes
Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.
6. Reduce cholesterol
The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates into lower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.
7. Get a healthier heart
An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.
8. Prevent gallstones
Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.
9. Beat diarrhea and constipation
Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.
10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.
11. Avert hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.
12. Control your weight
Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To manage your weight and improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in fibre will fill you up without costing you too many calories.
13. Detoxify your liver
We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best—and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits—like apples.
14. Boost your immune system
Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re stressed out.
15. Prevent cataracts
Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—like apples—are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts
Go Get Some APPLES!
I found these facts here which lined up with a bunch of other searches I did!
Read more at http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples/#MRt5Uz7b4cwUs4gH.99
Faiths Oven 
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