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!!

Avoiding the after Christmas blahs....

     Yes, it's that time of year when everyone is having a party and you are invited. All that sugar and cream cheese and candy starts to take its toll on you and by New Years, you wonder why everyone is sick. Of course, when crowds of people get together, there is bound to be a virus floating around, but there are some things you can do to avoid what I call the "After Christmas Blahs".

#1.  Try to keep the sugar to a minimum. We all love to show off our culinary skills this time of year, and all of those traditional recipes are loaded with sugar.  Every gift you receive has something sweet in it.  When you are at a party or get together, don't load your plate with sweets.  Maybe try one or two of them so you don't overdo it. Even the drinks are loaded with sugar and will give you a high that will make you feel great at first, and then drop you later.  Remember that white flour, corn, potatoes and white rice also turn to sugar in your system, adding to the problem.  Some of the signs of sugar overdose are: dry mouth, dizziness, sleepy or sluggish feeling, and a  headache on your forehead.  Some things you can do to quickly bring your blood sugar under control are: drink a large glass of water, take a jog ( or some other form of exercise),  or eat some protein (nuts, eggs, cheese, meat). Cinnamon is also great for  regulating blood sugar.  Take a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in unsweetened apple sauce to help keep your levels normal.  My mother-in-law also gave me another suggestion.  She is freezing some of the holiday candies that she was given and saving them for later so she doesn't overdose on them now!

#2.  Eat something raw with the meal.  Those veggie trays are there for a purpose.  Eating something raw with all of that junk will add some raw enzymes to your digestive juices to keep things working. You will also benefit from the antioxidants that will keep your immunities up!  Carrots, celery and raw broccoli are also great sources of fiber to keep things running smoothly.

#3. Prepare for battle. You know that there are viruses and bacteria floating around you, so get your body ready to fight.  Start taking Vitamin C to boost your immunity.  If you feel like you are about to come down with something, start taking nature's own antibiotic: Garlic.  Taking 2 or 3 pills (Kyolic is a good brand at Walmart, doesn't make you smell like you have been eating garlic!) a day will help your body fend off the sickness and may even end one that has already started.  If you feel a sore throat coming on, drink hot tea with honey. The honey will soothe your throat, and the "hot" will help to kill the infection. Salt water is also a great virus killer. Gargling  with it (1 tsp. salt per 1 cup water) or using it in a nasal spray will fend off an infection and will quickly dry up mucous.

#4. Take advantage of your vacation time. In other words: RELAX.  Take that extra nap or sleep in some of the mornings.  We all stay up and out too late during this time of the year.  Not getting enough sleep is another way to make you more prone to illnesses.  If your body is tired, it doesn't have the energy to fight and it won't. 
 
#5 Fill your plate with better choices. Bean dip and salsa with corn chips is better than potato chips and sour cream dip.  Whole grain crackers and cheese will fill you up and keep you filled up much better than chocolate cake and ice cream.  Veggies and fruit will keep you energized and healthier and won't drag you down like punch and cookies.  Keep the sweets to a minimum and fill up on the better choices.

#6.  Watch out for food poisoning.  That crab salad or pasta dish may have been sitting on the table for an hour or more.  Be careful.  Mayonnaise can go bad very quickly.  If you are the hostess, place salads like these on ice so they can stay cold. We are very careful about paying attention to this in the summertime because of the heat, but when you get a large group of people in one area, the room can get just as warm as summer heat!  Make sure that food is properly cooked to the correct temperatures.  According to guidelines for safe food handling, meat dishes need to be cooled as quickly as possible.  Consider the food you serve if you are going to something where you know it will be sitting out for awhile. 

#7.  Don't gorge yourself.  Eat slowly, and chew your food completely.  When you feel satisfied, stop eating.  It is at these times of the year that the food is out all evening and we keep grazing the entire time and make ourselves miserable later.  If your stomach is too full, it can't do its job and you will end up feeling sick and possibly even getting sick.  Use a smaller plate (it tricks your brain into thinking you are eating a lot!), take tiny portions if you must try everything, and don't stand near the food!  If it is out of your line of sight, you will be less tempted to grab some!


     Of course, even when taking all of these steps, there will still be sickness floating around.  But, we may be able to avoid some of the down time by making smarter choices and being prepared for sickness to come.  Who knows, maybe you will be one of those who don't get it this year!

  

The Raw Truth

Beginning a meal with something real, You won't believe how much better you feel!

We've all heard it before: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  Some may scoff at this "old wive's" tale, but it holds a simple truth: raw fruits and veggies keep you healthy!  Our second simple step to improving your general health is to add something green or raw to every meal.  Now, when I say "raw", I mean fruit or veggies, not meat, or cookie dough, or anything undercooked.  This simple habit was instilled into me by my mom when I was very young.  Every sack lunch I ever took to school had an apple or carrot sticks in it.  But, why raw?  Aren't cooked vegetable just as healthy?  Let's look at the advantages of raw fruits and vegetables:

#1 Raw fruits and vegetables have digestive enzymes in them.  So, in other words, it's like they are already partially digested for you and they assist your stomach in digesting the other food you have consumed.  Anyone who suffers from regular stomach pain could help themselves by starting every meal with some raw apple or pineapple.

#2 They help build strong and healthy teeth.  Ever noticed pictures of tribal people in other countries?  They have never even heard of a tooth brush, let alone the thought of using one, yet they usually have beautiful white, straight teeth.  How does that happen?  Their main diet consists of natural, unprocessed foods that require more chewing and contain good nutrients for strong teeth and jaws.  As a child, I had extremely crooked teeth coming in after I lost my baby teeth, but I believe that all those apples in my lunches every day helped to realign my teeth and make them straight again-- without the aid of braces! As Ogden Nash so poignantly put it "Celery raw develops the jaw...".

#3  They help to keep you happy.  Seriously!  Leafy green vegetables contain a lot of b vitamins.  A lack of these essential vitamins can make you nervous, irritable and often depressed!  So, forget the Zoloft, just add some fresh spinach and romaine lettuce to your diet!

#4 They help keep you young looking.  Here's another crazy idea, forget Botox, just keep eating those leafy greens!  They are full of compounds that help prevent wear and tear on  your skin.  They help repair your cells as you get older.  Studies have shown that men and women who ate the most green leafy vegetables had the least wrinkles!

#5 Many, many other benefits: We all know that veggies contain plenty of fiber to keep things moving, lots of vitamin C to keep us from getting sick and lots of brain power to keep us smart!

So, try it today.  Just simply adding a small amount of raw fruits and vegetables to every meal, will make a big difference in how you feel!