DOES APPLE A DAY KEEPS DOCTORS AWAY?

abhiyankhabar

chitwan,9/18/2022

DOES APPLE A DAY KEEPS DOCTORS AWAY?

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a common English-language proverb that appeared in the 19th century, advocating for the consumption of apples, and by extension, “if one eats healthy foods, one will remain in good health and will not need to see the doctor often.”

General information: –

Common name: Apple

Scientific name: Malus domestica

Plant type: Tree

Native region: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Central Asia

Main producer: China

Main economic use: Alimentary

Forms of Apple

Natural Form:

Raw: – Eating an apple fruit per day is enough to reap most of its nutritional benefits, including fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Juice: – Apple juice is rich in antioxidant compounds and it is thought to be good for brain function, as well as for skin and cardiovascular health. However, care should be taken with the high sugar content of some commercial brands.

Dried, Sliced or in small pieces, dehydrated apple is a great snack between meals, since it is fibre-rich and full of antioxidant phenols.

Cooked: – Apples are also used as an ingredient in larger dishes, from sandwiches to dinner entrees to various baked goods.

Infusion: – An infusion made from apple bark or leaves is thought to help settle upset stomachs, heartburn, and reflux due to its astringent nature. It is also believed to help calm diarrhoea or address chronic loose stool. Swishing the infusion around in the mouth may help tone weak and easily bleeding gums.

Poultice: –Apple leaves are believed to help with inflamed swellings, boils, bug bites, and scratches as a chewed, topical application.

Apple nutrition: –

A medium apple weighs in at approximately 182 grams. It is generally advised to eat a minimum of 5 different portions of fruit and veg each day and 80g equals one portion.

One medium apple contains the following nutritional value:

Calories: 95

Carbs: 25g

Fat: 0g

Protein: 1g

Sugar: 13g (naturally occurring)

Fibre: 4g

Vitamin C: 14% of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV)

Potassium: 6% of the NRV

Benefits of eating apples:

Good for teeth: – Apples won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

Protection against Parkinson’s disease: – Eating apple can prevent you from Parkinson’s disease. In a research it was found that people who ate high fibre food like apple were more immune towards disease, a condition characterized by a breakdown of the brain dopamine producing nerve cells. Antioxidants present in apple is considered to fight the free radical which avoid Parkinson’s diseases.
Decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes: – One who eat apple once a day are 28% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than who don’t ear apples. Fibre present in apple reduce the risk of developing such disease.
Reduce cholesterol: – Apple has a high quality of soluble fibre. This soluble binds with fats in the intestine which reduces the cholesterol level and helps you to live a healthier life.
Useful in diarrhoea and constipation: – Suffering from constipation or diarrhoea, then solution for both of them is eating apple, fibre can pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you are backed up, or absorb excess water from stool to slow your bowel’s down.
Helps to control your weight: – Apples can help in maintaining your body weight. Most of the health problems are associated with overweight. A few of them are heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes etc. To manage weight and improve overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in fibre like apples will fill you up without costing you too many calories.

Herbal Remedies & Supplements: –

Vinegar: – The benefits of apple cider vinegar include weight loss, lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, and even balancing the pH of the skin.

Oil: – Apple seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids (mainly linoleic acid) and phenolic compounds. It can be useful for treating acne as well as dry, itchy skin.

Capsules: – Apple cider vinegar pills boast the same benefits as consuming apples by helping improve digestion to promote weight loss.

Pectin Supplements are also used for diabetes and acid reflux.

Apple Side Effects: –

While apples are healthy fruits, people with birch-pollen allergies can develop an allergy to apples because of similarity in proteins. This syndrome – referred to as birch-apple syndrome- usually occurs up to 15 minutes after consumption of a raw apple and includes oral reactions, such as an itchy throat and inflammation.

The amount of allergen in the raw fruit depends on the variety, maturity, and storage conditions. Seed medical attention immediately is there is suspicion of an allergic reaction while eating raw apples or taking apple cider vinegar.

So, apples do significantly reduce the risk of ailments but apples are not the only fruits which are capable of such properties.
All fruits are loaded with nutrients that are essential for good health. Recently it was found that bananas are loaded with potassium which is important for proper heart and muscle function, blackberries contain fibre while strawberries contain fibre and Vitamin C, cranberries and blueberries fight urinary tract infections and apricots are rich in beta carotene which fights free radicals. If all fruits are loaded with nutrients, why were apples the only ones included in this famous saying?
At the time the proverb was coined, apples were easy to grow compared to other fruits and once harvested they could remain in storage for many years without rotting. Also, unlike other fruits, apples are capable of preserving their nutritional properties for long days after harvest.
So guys, if you ate only apples since you think it keeps the doctor away, you’ll become severely malnourished and eventually will have to meet the doctor anyway. So have a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables as that’s the best way to keep the doctor away.

I’m now pretty sure none of you after reading this would ever use this proverb again.

For best results, enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables as part of a nutritious, well-rounded diet.

by :Sudip Devkota

Food Technology Student