Today's Natural Cure: Apples

This article is from  naturalhealth365.com

The benefits of eating apples may surprise you

(NaturalHealth365) The old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” may sound trite and even outdated; however, increasingly research is showing that the benefits of eating apples truly are staggering. In fact, many scientists are calling the apple a “miracle fruit.”

The list of benefits is long, as the fruit can help fight cancer, boost the immune system, prevent cataracts, improve the digestive system and protect against age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of eating apples.

Apples can reduce the risk of heart disease

A USDA-funded study, that took place in 2011 – focusing on women, showed that apples not only reduce LDL (bad cholesterol levels), but also increase HDL (good cholesterol levels) by 4 percent. The doctor leading the research called what he say in the women who ate apples “incredible changes.” In just 6 months, women experienced a 23% decrease in LDL levels. The powerful phytonutrients in apples work to fight LDL.

Help yourself to lose weight by eating apples

One of the ways that people can effectively lose weight is through feeling satiated. The satiety effect leaves dieters feeling satisfied so that they not only don’t reach for unhealthy options, but also they make better, more wholesome food choices. The pectin in apple has a known satiety effect, and this is one of the reasons that eating apples can quickly lead to weight loss.

Pectin also has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Of course, losing weight will reduce your risk of a variety of ailments including everything from heart disease and high blood pressure to type-2 diabetes and stroke.

Improve the function of your lungs

Those who eat apples every week have better lungs. Researchers suggest that this could be a result of getting Vitamin C from a fresh fruit source, but others feel that it is the phytonutrients that help the lungs. Quercetin is one flavonoid in particular that reduces the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks. In general, quercetin can boost the immune system as well and help to combat stress.

Eating apples can reduce the likelihood of getting cancer

When it comes to all types of cancer, eating apples is a proven tool to combat this disease. A study from Finland’s National Public Health Institute revealed that a diet rich in flavonoids can reduce the risk of cancer.

In the study, nearly 10,000 men and women were studied. Researchers found that those who ate the most foods rich in flavonoids were 20% less likely to get cancer. Cornell scientists also have found that there are compounds in apple peels, called triterpenoids, that can combat cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast.

If for some reason you don’t like eating apples – studies have shown that drinking apple juice also has similar positive benefits. In this case, we recommend avoiding apple juice sold in stores, as it has been shown to have elevated arsenic levels. In this case, simply juice fresh organic apples, so that you don’t miss out on all the nutritious pulp and fiber content.

Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110412131923.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-36536/Apples-fight-heart-disease-cancer-strokes.html
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-juicing-apples-4858.html

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