Do you believe that apple came straight from the paradise and landed on our menu?

Do you believe that apple is a symbol of lust, love and eternal youth?

Such epithets reflect human admiration towards this fruit.

The old Celts believed that apple has miraculous properties and that the person that manages to eat an apple from a magical garden will never again be hungry, thirsty or sick nor will that person ever grow old. 

Naturally, each fairy-tale has some truth to it.

Praises given to apple came because of apple’s exquisite taste and healing effects. 

Although apple does not heal diseases directly, by daily consumption of apples we can prevent many health problems from occurring.

Old English saying goes: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away" - if you eat an apple or two every day, you will do much for your health.

A fruit from prehistoric period

Apple’s origins are in Europe, where it has grown as a wild tree since the prehistoric times. 

Domesticated apple originates from southern Siberia and Asia and Greeks and Romans cultivated many varieties of apples. 

Apple tree can grow up to 12 meters high and has branched treetop with egg-shaped leaves.

Apples blossom in May with pale pink to white flowers and apple fruits ripe from July to October, depending on variety. 

Apple is amongst the most widely spread fruits. There are over 10 000 apple varieties that differentiate in taste, sweetness or sourness, consistency and juiciness.

Nutritive treasure chest

Apple fruit is rich in nutrients and their amounts depend on apple varieties and cultivation. Apple contains almost all nutrients our body needs.

One apple contains up to 40 mg of vitamin C, vitamin A, E, B1, B2, B6 and beta-carotene. It also contains minerals such as potassium (100 to 180 mg), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron.

Apple is rich in polyphenols – plant compounds that have strong antioxidative activity. It contains quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, catechins, anthocyanins and more than 20 other antioxidants.

100 grams of apples contains 3.3 grams of dietary fibers, which is ten times more that recommended daily amounts.

Apple – a small pharmacy

Due to high carbohydrate content, especially fructose and glucose, apple gives energy to our organism and prevents fatigue and loss of concentration. 

Due to a high vitamin C and antioxidant content, apple has a strong immunostimulative effect.

That is the reason why apple is so efficient in fighting viruses, bacteria and free radicals.

Apple protects against the common cold and reduces the risk of colon cancer development.

Apple has positive effects on the heart and cardiovascular system. It prevents the accumulation of harmful compounds in the blood, reduces increased cholesterol and prevents blood vessel clogging. By doing so, it protects against thrombosis and atherosclerosis. 

Because it is rich in pectin and cellulose, apple enhances digestion, stabilizes intestinal flora and helps with diarrhea and constipation. 

Apple is a staple food in every diet. Since it contains large amounts of potassium it enhances the excretion of excess fluids from our organism, which benefits weight-loss. Apple’s abundance of fibbers swells inside of our stomach and makes us feel full. 

Apples also contain monosaccharide fructose, a sugar that reduces our craving for sweet and does not change glucose concentrations in blood. 

Newer researches indicate that tannin acid found in apple significantly influences fat metabolism and prevents fats from accumulation in our liver. 

Apple has beneficial effects on performance of kidneys, liver and bile. 

Its effects on urine alkalinity help with pregnancy complications.

When it comes to bioflavonoids, apples contain mostly anthocyanin concentrated in the apple’s peel and that give red color to certain varieties. 

That is why it is recommended to eat apples with their peel (this does not apply to apples treated with pesticides).

Anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory effects, have protective effects on the liver and heart and prevent cavities and strengthen and protect gums and oral flora.

By slowly chewing apple you will clean your teeth and destroy harmful bacteria in the oral cavity.

Apple helps against cavities even better that brushing teeth! By brushing our teeth we destroy 60% of bacteria in our mouth, by eating apples we destroy 90% of them.

Since apples contain up to 90% of water and no fats, apples are effective for quenching thirst and for refreshment after exhausting training.

Apples contain tryptophan – metabolic predecessor of serotonin – so it can lift our mood better than a bar of chocolate.

Apart from that, apple has calming effects and alleviates neurosis and anxiety and is welcomed for calming people down and for sedation.

 

Apple’s health benefits include:

• strengthens immunity
• helps weight-loss
• stimulates kidney, liver and bile performance
• stimulates digestion
• protects heart and blood vessels
• helps with stress, fatigue and insomnia
• protects against bacteria and viruses
• prevents several types of cancer

 

Purchasing and storing

When purchasing, choose apples that are firm, smooth and shiny. Make sure that the peel is firm and without damages. 

Although apples can be found in stores throughout the year, they are best in a period between October and April.

Apple is a fruit that can stay fresh for a long time.

If you have a cellar, you can store them in wooden boxes, but do not expose them to too much light, ensure stable temperature, ventilation and enough moisture.

From time to time remove the apples that started to root.

You can store them in your fridge for a couple of weeks. It is important to place them on paper packaging since apples release ethylene gas which enhances ripening of other fruits or vegetables stored in your fridge.

If you store apples in a sun-light place, they will ripe sooner and if stored in a place that is dry and does not have needed moisture levels, fruits will lose their own water and start shrinking if they are stored in low-moisture places.

Dishes containing apples

Apples are mostly consumed raw, but you can also bake, cook, dry apples or process them into jams, juices, jelly or make apple cider vinegar which is highly regarded. 

Apple cider vinegar is produced by boiling apples or apple juice. It is mostly used in salads or as a potion mixed with honey and water. Apple cider vinegar is used for treating many diseases in alternative medicine. 

Eat fresh apples half an hour before or after your main meals.

Since apples contain high percentage of water filled with nutritive compounds, apples pass through our stomach in 15 to 20 minutes and their compounds are quickly absorbed. If you mix apples with other food items, especially food items rich in fats and proteins, apples will stay in your stomach for several hours.

Apples are used as a dressing for pies, cakes and pancakes.

As a simple treat for children, apples are often sliced, coated in liquid dough, fried and sprinkled with the cinnamon and sugar. 

They can also be eaten fresh dressed with lemon juice or as a part of fruit salads or cooked as a compote.

Apples can be sliced and dried in the sun or in oven on 70 degrees C which makes tasty fruit chips.

Recipes

Apple cake

• 400 g of Muesli with fruits (without added sugar)
• 300 ml of fruit juice
• 5 smaller sweet apples
• 1 vanilla sugar
• 1 big spoon of honey
• 2 full big spoons of home-made jam
• ½ of grated orange or lemon peel
• a pinch of cinnamon

Pour juice over Muesli, mix them and leave the mixture for a while. Grate apples and add them into the Muesli mixture. Then add other ingredients. Add honey according to your taste.

Pour the mixture into round oiled casserole and bake on 200 degrees C for 30 minutes. Leave the cake to cool down and cover it with chocolate dressing. Enjoy!

 

Apple pulp juice

• 2 apples
• 2 bananas
• 2 spoons of linen seeds
• 2 spoons of cinnamon
• ½ of cup of frozen berries
• water in needed quantities

Leave linen seeds in water overnight.

Peel apples if they are not organically cultivated and slice them. Peel and chop bananas. Rinse linen seeds.

Put all ingredients into a mixer and add 0.1 liters of water in order to make homogenous mixture. If the mixture is too dense, add more water.

You can add nutty fruits (almonds, nuts, hazelnuts etc.), raisins or freshly squeezed fruit juice into the mixture.

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