Apples

have inspired many myths and legends. Apples were frequently used in Greek, Roman, Norse, and other mythologies as symbols of immortality or reincarnation. One of the most popular stories pertaining to apples is that of Adam and Eve, who ate the "forbidden fruit" of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the center of the garden of Eden. Actually, the account given in Genesis 2 and 3 never mentions what kind of fruit this tree produced, but numerous works of art commonly depict it as an apple. The Latin noun Malus has the dual meaning of either apple or evil, which probably stems from this Bible story. Apples are symbolic of temptation, perhaps as a result. An evergreen, the Paradise tree, was decorated with apples as a symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve held on December 24th during the middle ages.

In Norse tradition, the Apple is the tree of immortality. The Goddess Idunn was the keeper of the apples, which she fed the Norse Gods and Goddesses to keep them forever young. Apple wands were also used in Norse love rituals. To the Norse, apples represented long life, wisdom and love. Celts attributed the power of healing and youth, or rebirth, to apples. Apples are one of the “magical trees,” the otherwordly Avalon was also known as the Avallach, the Isle of Apples. Paris signaled his judgment of the fairest of the Goddesses by giving Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, an apple. In Ireland the quest for wisdom was realized by pursuing the white doe under a wild Apple tree. Diviners in search of water hidden underground are known to often use forked branches taken from the Apple tree, traditionally called 'Wishing Rods.' The Apple tree is the oldest cultivated tree in Europe.

Apples originated in the region of Turkey and southwest Russia, where travelers carried them to Greece, Rome, and Asia. Alexander the Great had apples among his food supplies, and the Romans built vast storehouses to hold apples throughout the winter months. Apples were brought to North America with colonists in the 1600's, and the first apple orchard on this continent was said to be near Boston in 1625. From New England origins, apples moved west with pioneers, John Chapman (alias Johnny Appleseed) and missionaries during the 1700's and 1800's.

According to the latest research, the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is fact, not just folklore. The nutritional stars in apples—fiber, flavonoids, and fructose—translate into apples’ ability to keep us healthy. Apple’s two types of fiber pack a double punch that can knock down cholesterol levels, reducing your risk of hardening of the arteries, heart attack, and stroke. Eating 2 large apples a day has lowered cholesterol levels by up to 16%!

Diets that frequently include apples, green tea, onions, and broccoli—the richest sources of flavonoids— gain a 20% reduction in the risk of heart disease, may have a 32% lower risk of heart attack than people who consume less of these foods.

Apples possess powerful antioxidant properties which can help to prevent or reduce kidney stones, breast and colon cancer, type-2 diabetes, asthma, and lung problems. The total antioxidant activity of 100 grams of whole apple (with the peel) was found to be equivalent to the antioxidant effect of about 1500 mg of vitamin C. (However, the amount of vitamin C in 100 g of apples is only about 5.7 mg. Nearly all of the antioxidant activity from apples comes from a variety of other compounds.) Eating Braeburn apples can even protect against the sun’s UV radiation.

In the most recent studies, investigators found that the combination of apple pectin and apple phenols lowered cholesterol and triglycerides to a much greater extent than either apple pectin or phenols alone. Again, this shows that the apple is really the sum of its parts -it is the combined effects of its chemistry that really makes a difference. Ultimately, to get the best out of an apple, just eat them whole, raw, and unprocessed.

significant nutritional content:

vitamins C, K, flavenoids, fiber, fructose, phenols, pectin, antioxidants, anticancer, good for heart, weight management, eyesight

FRUITS

Apples
Bananas
Coconut
Mango
Oranges
Peaches
Strawberries

VEGETABLES

Beets
Carrots
Celery
Cucumber
Garlic
Ginger
Parsley
Spinach
Spirulina
Wheatgrass