It has become a tradition for my husband and me to visit Canada in the fall in order to spend time with family in New Brunswick, Canada. Their Thanksgiving is celebrated earlier than ours – the second Monday in October. This year, with the border closed we were unable to go. Even though we visit using computers and tablets, we still miss them an awful lot.
Along with the joys of being with family, this season up north offers the splendor of spectacular fall foliage and juicy, crisp apples. I love apples. One of the traditions that my husband has established with our grandsons is to hike a nature trail that has a lot of wild apple trees. They produce smaller apples, but the boys like them well enough. There are numerous deer who roam the area, and the ones they don’t eat, they feed to the deer. It turns out deer also love apples.
Apples and Health
We’ve all heard (and said) the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. But my question is, “Can an apple a day keep dementia at bay”? Apparently others were wondering as well. A study conducted by the by researchers at Cornell University in New York found that quercetin, a potent antioxidant abundant in apples appears to protect brain cells against oxidative stress, a tissue-damaging process associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
While I’ve always held to the belief that God has hidden healthy essentials inside fruits and vegetables – meaning we do need to eat a wide variety of fresh foods, it seems that apples might have gotten an extra portion of secret goodness. When possible, try to buy organic apples – conventionally grown apples have more pesticide residues.
If whole apples are not very appealing, how about just the juice? Alzheimers.net sites a study that “found that drinking apple juice regularly could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 75%.” Personally, I find cider to be better tasting than juice and because it’s usually not filtered, it contains more of the apple’s goodness.
Raw apples have a multitude of benefits, but stewed apples are also an ideal food. Stewing is an easy process and creates the extra benefit of gut-healing pectin. It also makes them softer and easier to eat, so if your loved one has any trouble eating or digestive issues, it may be worth giving them a try.
Stewed Apples
6 apples cored and diced (but not pealed). Place in a saucepan along with about a ½ cup of water, sprinkle in 1 or 2 teaspoons of cinnamon (cloves and raisins can also be added). Heat and stir occasionally until soft. Enjoy.
There is an abundance of good reasons to eat apples. Apples and apple products possess a wide range of biological activities Additional studies suggest that apples and apple products can also prevent various types of cancers.
So, in light of all the potential health benefits in this tasty little fruit, how do you like them apples?
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