Foods that Heal: Apples

     In continuing our "Foods that Heal" series, I have been studying up on the benefits of apples.  My mom always said "Apples are the most portable nutrition", and they are.  They are wrapped up in the perfect convenient packaging, easily carried with you to eat and toss the core.  Let's look at some of the benefits of this super food.

     Of course, the old adage is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", and it is so true, but what else does an apple a day keep away?

AN APPLE A DAY:
  
*keeps the orthodontist away-- I had the worst crooked teeth as a young girl.  I remember a huge gap between my two front teeth, due to the fact that one of them came in completely sideways.  I carried a lunch to school every day, faithfully packed by my mom every morning, and every single day there was an apple in there.  Mom always checked up on us each evening to make sure we ate all of our lunch.  I honestly believe that eating raw, hard to chew vegetables and fruits help align your teeth.  Sinking your teeth into that apple and pulling a bite off pulls those teeth and lines them up!

*keeps the Prilosec away-- We have an epidemic of giant proportions in our country. People are suffering from acid reflux, and are told by the doctor that their body is producing too much acid.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Your stomach has a "door" on the top of it.  It opens to let in food when you eat and is supposed to close.  Your stomach produces acid so that the food can be digested.  Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables aid in the digestion process, and your stomach knows this!  If it does not have enough raw enzymes to assist in digesting your food, the "door" stays open until you send some down.  If the "door" doesn't close, then the acid comes up in your throat and gives you that burning sensation.  Many who suffer with this problem would benefit greatly just by simply eating a whole apple about half an hour before eating a meal. (By the way, if you were to go to the drug companies websites and read about these types of medications, you would discover that, besides having harmful side effects, the companies state that this type of drug is not to be taken for more than 14 days.....hmmm, seems like everyone is on it permanently.)



Ad from a magazine.  Of course, a doctor will tell you otherwise!

  (This type of drug turns off some of the acid producers in the stomach, causing a worse problem where the food is not digested and therefore you receive no nutrients.)

*keeps the inhaler away-- Apples have been known to promote healthy lung function. It has been found that good lung function was associated with high intakes of vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, citrus fruits, apples, and fruit juices. However, those who studied these facts, after they took into consideration factors such as body mass, smoking history and exercise the only food that seemed to make a significant difference was apples. It was found that eating five or more apples a week was linked to a slightly better lung function. So, keep those lungs functioning correctly by including apples in your diet!

*keeps the fat away-- Okay, now I have your undivided attention!  The skin of raw apples contains pectin, which when eaten, forms a gel in your stomach.  This gel inhibits the absorption of fats and  also helps to suppress your appetite and make you feel full! Plus, when your stomach has the proper amount of digestive enzymes, the digestion process will be more efficient, eliminating bloating and belly aches.  My kids know that the cure for a tummy ache is some raw apple! Another benefit of having good digestive processes is that the problem of bad breath is also reduced!

*keeps the yellow teeth away-- Another area that we are constantly reminded of the advertising industry is that of having beautiful, white teeth.  Apples help keep your teeth white by helping your body begin the digestive process in your mouth.  Eating an apple helps your strengthen your saliva with the enzymes in the apple.  Strong saliva washes over your teeth and helps to dissolve the plaque that can turn your teeth yellow.

*keeps away the cataracts, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, etc.-- There are so many other benefits to eating apples.  Try one today, or better yet, one with each meal.  They are sweet, and delicious, so why not incorporate them in your everyday eating routine? Apples are also antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and they contain lots of fiber to keep things running smoothly.  We could all benefit from at least one apple a day!
    *By the way, it was not an apple on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that Eve ate in the garden, causing her to sin!!  But perhaps, apples were what grew on the tree of life!!

"Give us this day..." Part 2

     After reading up on the benefits of daily bread, I think I could have titled this blog "Foods that Heal : Bread".  I am finding some interesting (and convicting!) information!  Psalm 104 is praising the acts of our Creator in taking special care of His creation, and in verses 14 and 15, it mentions the many things that God has given to take care of our needs: "He causeth grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart."  Wow, did you know that daily bread will strengthen your heart?  It says it right there in the Scripture!
    The premise of the last discussion on bread emphasized the fact that bread is something that should be worked for.  Even praying for your "daily bread" really means that you are praying for work!  In working for our daily bread we are made more grateful for the abilities that God has given us to work for what we need.  How different our society would be if people realized the gratification that comes from a hard day's work and the rewards that come from laboring for your needs. 
       The emphasis of this blog is primarily on the health benefits of eating fresh, made-daily bread.  If we were to go back in history and study the progression of bread making throughout time, we would see an interesting path.  God originally designed grain as one of the most complete foods, and the balance within the grain is vital for the health of those who eat it.  When the whole grain is ground into flour and baked, it brings about the results that God intended it to. However, when one part of the grain is left out, the balance is destroyed and the benefits are wasted.  We find throughout history the desire to eliminate the "healthy look" of  whole grain flour.  Man has succeeded in eliminating the dark color, and continues to seek ways of making a softer, whiter bread.  Did you know that even the ancient Egyptians succeeded in producing a whiter, softer bread?  Even the Romans were onto this scheme.  They found a process to condition the grain with salt water to make it more refined.  It was in Rome that the color of one's bread took on a cultural significance.  Refined flour was reserved for only the wealthiest people.  You could tell one's social status by the color of their bread!  The drive for whiter bread came to head in Rome, when the government initiated a program of milling the grain for people.  In their pursuit of ever whiter bread, they even added chalk and alum to the flour, which caused many health disorders.  When the demand became so great, the government was soon providing flour to every household, taking away the need for working for the bread!  Sound familiar? Since then, wheat flour has been bleached to achieve the white effect.  For years, grain mills used nitrogen trichloride, but this chemical was banned by the FDA several years ago.  Now, flour is bleached with chlorine dioxide (approved by the FDA), which is an even more potent bleaching agent
     Whole grain spoils and becomes moldy in a very short time.  This caused problems for those who were trying to store bread and sell it to the masses.  By taking away the germ of the wheat, which contains the oil, and the outer covering, which contains the fiber, the wheat flour can be stored for much longer periods of time.  This process removes about 25 vital vitamins and minerals and the proteins.  Vitamins and minerals work together in your body to help your body use them. When one is taken away, the remaining vitamins are useless.  The germ of the wheat is a rich source of Vitamin E.   Studies have shown that a diet that lacks Vitamin E can lead to heart disease.  Hmmm, so real bread does strengthen man's heart!
      Because grain begins to deteriorate immediately after the grain is cracked, then fresh ground flour is the best choice for daily bread.  God instructed us to pray for daily bread, not weekly or monthly.  If you were to place a piece of store bought bread on the counter in a plastic bag and also place a piece of homemade bread in a similar bag and watch them for a few days, which one do you think would get moldy sooner?  The homemade bread, of course.  The absence of preservatives and the presence of the whole grain will make it go rancid much sooner.  It is the best choice for your daily intake of bread.
     So, as a result of this reading, I am currently praying for a grain mill.  I purchase whole wheat flour to make my bread, but even that is not the best.  Grinding the wheat and using it immediately is the best choice for daily bread. Yes, it is more work, but in the end the benefits will far outweigh the work put out to make it.  After all, that was God's intention in the first place. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread....' Genesis 3:19
*More to come on the health benefits of daily bread...........