Today in the United States, (thanks, in large part, to Johnny Appleseed), we have over 75 varieties of apples. More than one quarter of the US apple crop comes from Washington State. Americans eat an average of just eighteen pounds of apples a year, while the Belgians and Italians put away 3 times that amount!Aside from being a wonderful snack, apples carry amazing health benefits!
Let’s look at a few:
Water
Apples have about an 80% water content! This helps satisfy thirst on 2 levels - not just the regular kind of thirst you have when you reach for a beverage. The high water content also keeps your cells’ thirst quenched! Cellular health is vital to overall health. Munching on fresh apples is a great way to keephydrated! (Coconut water is still best for electrolyte balance with hydration though.)
Tartaric and Malic Acid
While they don’t sound too pretty, these acids help keep your intestinal tract healthy! They help remove impurities in the liver and stop the growth of bad bacteria in the digestive tract.
Fiber
Apples are a great source of fiber, gently cleansing the intestines of toxins and toxic effects of certain chemicals. The juicy fiber of an apple also helps clean the teeth and exercise the gums when eaten raw.
Promote a Healthy pH Balance
Apples are a highly digestible alkaline food. Research has shown the importance of the “pH balance” in the body. If the environment in the body is acidic, this most often leads to chronic illness. Consuming alkaline foods is very important for overall health. Apples are about 3.30-4.0 in alkalinity, making them very friendly and helping to reactivate good flora in the intestines.
Pectin
Don’t be fooled by this little word. It packs a real punch!For starters, pectin builds a natural barrier around our cells that controls the accumulation of fat absorbed! It also helps the body digest iron - even though apples don’t contain much iron.All apples (especially green apples) help soften gallstones, cleanse the liver and the gallbladder! Here’s my favorite fact about pectin: European research shows that apple pectin binds itself to any radioactive substances or residue in the body and “sweeps” them out - along with lead, mercury and other toxic heavy metals. Regular apple consumption has been shown to reduce skin disease, arthritis and various lung and asthma conditions!
If you've read my story about surviving cancer and the treatments that I had to have, you'd understand why this health benefit is my favorite. ;)
So how can you get more apples in your diet? Here's one idea! Raw apple pie!
Do you have a favorite kind of apple? Please feel free to comment here!
(Photo Credit-the-bucket-of-apples2 by Prepaan)
