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The apple contains minerals and vitamins
in abundance. Hence it is a highly nutritive food and is considered a
symbol of good health and vitality. Studies have shown that eating
apples can help reduce the risk of getting a heart attack and research
has proven that apples have the power to stop cancer cells. Although
evidence is still preliminary, eating an apple a day does really help
keep the doctor away.
Most of the us will favor the apple's
flesh compared to its skin because it is sweeter and juicier. But much
of the apple's healing properties is found in its skin. It's in the
skin that a compound called quercetin is found in large amount. This
is an antioxidant, like vitamin C and beta-carotene that helps prevent
harmful oxygen molecules from damaging individual cells. It helps
prevent cells from mutating which eventually leads to cancer. Studies
throughout the world have shown that people who consumed
quercetin and other antioxidants in their daily diets had a 20 percent
lower risk of getting a heart disease compared to those who ate the
least. Researches came to a conclusion that quercetin was
responsible for the good results of the studies.
Apples contain large amount of quercetin,
so eating an apple a day is always a good idea. Not only does it
reduces the risk of getting a heart disease, quercetin has shown that
it can inhibit the growth of tumors and helps prevent cancer cells
from spreading. In laboratory tests when single cells are subjected to
a carcinogen, and then put in quercetin, mutation is prevented from
occurring.
Apples are also known to have a high
fiber content which includes soluble and insoluble fiber, including
pectin. Insoluble fiber is mostly found in the apple's skin. It is
this roughage which is highly recommended for people with constipation
problems. Constipation can lead to more serious problems such as
cancer of the colon. Because insoluble fiber is filling, apples are
also excellent weight control food.
Unlike insoluble fiber, the soluble
fiber found in apples acts differently. When it passes through the
digestive tract, it forms a gel like material that helps lower
cholesterol levels and together with it, high blood pressure, heart
disease and stroke.
Apples are also highly recommended to
people suffering from diabetes because of the soluble fiber pectin.
It's ability to form a gel slows digestion, which slows the rise in
blood sugar. It also reduces the cholesterol produced in the liver. |