By: Petra Čutuk |
The healing power of apples |
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The king fruit not only of winter, but of all seasons, apple is a delicious and medicinal food.
In many cultures it is considered to be the elixir of life.
According to Scandinavian mythology, the gods ate apples to remain eternally young.
The Celts also considered apple to be a special fruit. According to a legend, the one who eat an apple from a magical garden would never become sick or grow old.
Apple was also the favorite fruit of the Romans.
In Roman times, during the reign of Augustus, about 30 different types of apples were known.
In the 16th century the number had increased to 200 species, and today there are about 8.000 species of apples.
Apple belongs to the rose family, and the tree of domestic apple originated from southern Siberia and Central Asia and Eastern Europe, from where it spread throughout the world.
Today the apple tree is most cultivated tree in the world.
The healing properties of apple
As early as the Middle Ages both nutritive and medicinal properties of apples were known.
Apart from fruits, apple flowers and leafs were also used for medicinal purposes.
The young shoots of the apple were used to treat arthritis while buds were used to cure headaches, cramps and constipation.
When the Christian saint Hildegard of Bingen spoke about the healing properties of apples, she also mentioned other parts apart from the fruit.
What is the secret of this fruit?
An apple is like a treasure chest.
It is rich in fibers (cellulose, pectin, lignin). It contains 20% of the daily recommended amount of fibers.
Fibers from the apple reduce harmful cholesterol and prevent the development of heart disease.
Furthermore, it is rich in vitamins C, A, E, K and B, minerals (potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron). It contains lactic, citric and malic acids, which help in the digestion process.
It supplies the body with energy, prevents fatigue and clears the mind.
If you eat an apple before you go to bed, you will have a peaceful and restful sleep.
Since apples do not have a high energetic value, being mostly made of water in which vitamins and minerals are dissolved, our body digests them in only 20 minutes.
But if you take an apple after a meal, it undergoes the fermentation process and most nutrients and medicinal substances are lost.
Lose weight with the help of apples
In many dietary menus, you will find an apple as an essential food for weight loss.
It is no wonder, because one medium-sized apple fruit contains just 80 calories, with a wealth of nutrients - vitamins, minerals and fibers!
Apple contains pectin - a fibrous substance that swells in contact with water, so when you eat an apple you will feel satiated.
Tannic acid, which is found in apples, promotes metabolism and prevents the deposition of fat in the liver.
Since it contains a lot of potassium, the apple promotes expulsion of fluid from the body.
An apple is made of 90% water, so this is a great thirst-quenching and refreshing fruit.
Apple juice against fatigue and poor digestion
It has been proven that our bodies absorb more nutrients from the juice, rather than from solid foods.
When you drink fresh juices, all the nutrients go directly into the blood and then our body gets enormous benefits.
Apple juice is rich in iron, magnesium, silicon and potassium.
It facilitates the transmission of impulses in nerve cells, fills our brain with oxygen and improves heart function.
Experts say that two glasses of apple juice a day reduce the possibility of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
If you have digestive problems, drink apple juice because of the fiber in apples, which help regulate digestion.
Apple juice with the addition of ginger removes fatigue and apathy. It is especially suitable for winter days because it warms up the organism.
If you decide to consume the juice, it is best to drink fresh, unsweetened juice made of organic apples.
Apple cider vinegar for pH balance of the body
Acidosis (acidity of the blood) is one of the major causes of many diseases.
Due to poor dietary habits (consumption of white sugar, refined and fast food), the acidity of the body increases.
Therefore, it is important to consume foods that will increase the alkalinity, to bring the body into balance and thus prevent the occurrence of diseases.
Apple cider vinegar is one of the best foods for increasing alkalinity.
Since ancient times, apple cider vinegar has been known as a medicinal food.
The famous Hippocrates, who lived 400 years before Christ, treated many diseases using apple cider vinegar.
Posca, a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar, was a favorite refreshing drink of the ancient Romans.
Along with the acetic acid, which is a natural antiseptic and preservative, the apple cider vinegar also contains more than 90 different ingredients - vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
Researchers have shown that apple cider vinegar has a beneficial effect on metabolism, strengthens the immune system and is an important food for maintaining vitality.
Apple cider vinegar participates in the process of detoxification of the body, promotes the breakdown of excess fat and boosts metabolism to burn calories faster.
Every day, morning and evening, on an empty stomach, drink 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar that you have diluted in a little water. Thereby you will maintain the vitality of your body.
To further boost the healing properties of vinegar, add a little honey.
Other benefits of apples
By slowly nibbling and chewing apples you strengthen your gums, and one apple can cleanse the mouth of as much as 90% of bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Acid, which is present in apples, can contribute to dissolving dental calculus.
Apples also contain serotonin, known as the "happiness hormone".
If you are in a bad mood, reach for an apple and you will feel better!
Eat an apple without removing its skin, since it contains six times more vitamins than the flesh.
The apple skin also contains pectin, a fiber that binds toxins and helps the intestines expel the remnants of digested food.
Ursolic acid in the apple skin controls cholesterol and blood sugar, strengthens muscles and protects the body from decay.
Consume apples every day, and thus prevent the occurrence of many health problems.
We recommend that you consume apples from organic farming, and if you buy apples that have been treated with pesticides, be sure to peel them, since the skin contains the majority of pesticides.
Author Petra Čutuk: [url=http://www.divineenergypark.org]http://www.divineenergypark.org[/url]
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