'An Apple a Day'

Apples aren't the most nutrient packed fruit but they certainly have some strong points. They do provide some vitamin C and potassium but their strong suit lies in their ability to control blood sugar. Apples are a good source of soluble fiber, especially pectin, which helps control insulin levels by slowing the release of sugar into your bloodstream

In days gone by apples doctors believed and educated the people that apples could alleviate digestion, bowel movement, respiratory and nervous system ailments. It was customary to eat an apple at the end of a meal believing that they contributed to good digestion.

Apple juice, historically, has been one of the first prescribed antidepressants because of it's blood sugar benefits. Additionally apples are high in soluble fiber particularly pectin which definitely helps in controlling insulin. Pectin may also lower cholesterol levels.

Although not the greatest Antioxidant source they do supply an adequate supply of phenolics and the flavonoid quercetin. These natural antioxidants are all natural and travel the bloodstream building the immune system with no known side effects.

Researchers from Comell University have discovered that the amount of fresh apple extract from a medium apple with skin provides the antioxidant action equivalent to 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C. Using colon cancer cells treated with apple extract, the researchers noticed that cell proliferation was repressed in vitro. The scientists also tested the apple extract against human liver cancer cells and again found reticence of the growth of those cells.

Additionally, people who ate many apples may have lower rates of lung cancer, concluded by a study done in Finland. The study, published August 1, 1997, in the American Journal of Epidemiology, was keyed on flavonoids. The study reviewed the diet of 9,959 Finns aged five to 99 years. Of those in the group who were cancer-free in 1965, those who ate the most flavonoid-rich foods

Interestingly people who consume many apples and other fruit, vegetables, onions, juices, and jams had a 20 percent lower occurrence of cancer through 1991. Quercetin, a flavonoid found mainly in apples, accredited for 95 percent of the flavonoids eaten by the study group.

Oh by-the-way eat your apple with the peel since Quercetin is only found in the apple skin.