The humble apple has such a multitude of health benefits, for great health I recommend 6-10 per week depending on what other fruits are in your diet.
Alkalinity & Wellness
Apples, especially taken as a freshly pressed juice are seriously alkalising and brilliant to take first up in the morning. You can literally feel the health benefits washing through your blood stream, as apple balances your blood sugar, and promotes a deep feeling of wellness as they deliver numerous amounts of phytonutrients into your cells. Apples have been proven to transform unhealthy bacteria in your digestive system and encourage good bugs to flourish. Recent long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain anti-oxidants, like apples are 10-15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts. Apples contain an anti-oxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost your immune system, particularly if you experience high levels of stress. Apple has a calming affect, again this affect is enhanced when it is taken as a freshly pressed juice.
Diarhorrea, Constipation & IBS
Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, the fibre found in apples can greatly assist. Fibre can either pull water out of your bowel to keep things moving along when you’re number 2’s just aren’t moving, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down. As Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) sufferers often alternate between these two states, apples then are extremely effective to have in their day to day life.
Lower Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein, is the best measure of your threat for heart attack and stroke, much more so than total cholesterol, as reported by the American Heart Association. Apples lower blood levels of Oxidized LDL, the “bad” Cholesterol. When LDL cholesterol interacts with free radicals to become oxidized, the cholesterol is more likely to promote inflammation which in turn causes cellular damage. A researcher at Ohio State university stated that “we got a tremendous effect against LDL being oxidized with just one apple a day for four weeks.
Healthy Heart
An large 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.
Prevent Alzheimer’s
In a mouse frown emoticon study it was shown that apple juice enhances the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine and therefore fights the affect of aging in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by nerve cells to transmit messages to other nerve cells. They are critical for good memory and brain health. Previous studies have shown that increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the brain can slow the mental decline found in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Cancer
In different research around the world scientists have discovered that apples can reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Other research has shown a compound in apple peel has potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breasts. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. As cancer develops in a person with a low pH, i.e a high acidic state, any foods which raise the pH level to an alkaline state, assists in preventing cellular disruption.
Cleanse Your Liver & Clear Gall Bladder Pain
The acid in apple juice, known as acetic acid, softens the stones in the liver and gall bladder therefore preparing them for an easy exit. If you, or anyone you know is suffering from an acute (or ongoing) attack of gall stones. Get them to drink a litre or more of apple juice per day. This will soften the stones or gravel, and stop the formations from irritating the gall bladder wall, thereby extinguishing the pain. If the gall stones are less than the size of a golf ball, in most cases, they can be flushed from the body via natural means. Contact Miriam Young for further information on the natural removal of gall stones.