Apples

Call me boring but apples are one of my favourite fruit. They are known as the fruit of knowledge with promises of ever lasting youth.
Apples are full of antioxidants and contain both insoluble and soluble (pectin) fibre. Pectin helps remove toxic metals, such as mercury, and radiation residues.
Apples are important for heart health as they are anti-inflammatory and help keep cholesterol level low.
In Chinese medicine, apples are viewed as cooling and moistening. They regulate blood sugar levels, protect lungs from cigarette smoking and reduce risks of lung cancer.
Apples are great for keeping our gut healthy even though the sugar content and the glycaemic index are both higher with cooked apples. A poultice of grated apples applied over the eyes works wonders with red eyes.
I love apples not just for the taste but also for their help with age related health problems such as macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.
The old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ feels true to me but beware pesticide residues on apples; buy them organic and eat their skin which contains health promoting flavonoid phytonutrients such as quercetin.
Their peak season in the Northern Hemisphere is in autumn. Eat them mostly then to get their highest nutrients. Yum!