Apples are a much neglected, underappreciated fruit. You may think of them as dull and not half as exotic as papaya or passion fruit, but nutritionally they really pack a punch.
The German medical practitioner and nutritionist, Dr Funfack, believes in the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ so wholeheartedly that if you follow his Metabolic Balance® weight loss programme you HAVE TO consume one organic apple a day. And for good reason too. Apples contain an abundance of:
Pectin soluble fibre – to prevent constipation (& diarrhoea) and cleanse the bowels, and bind fats in the intestines, lowering cholesterol levels. This low glycaemic index fruit loaded with soluble fibre can also help to balance blood sugar levels, preventing type 2 diabetes
Fructose – this natural sugar in fruit is an excellent source of slow release glucose for energy production.
Antioxidants/flavonoids – to fight damaging oxidative free radicals that can lead to an array of conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes amongst others. The antioxidant compounds in apples have also been shown to counteract damage to the brain, reducing the risk of Alzheimers and Parkinson
Malic Acid - this natural acid can improve digestion as it supplies hydrogen for stomach acid & pepsin production. Malic acid is also involved in intracellular energy production and it can aid in the liver’s detoxification of toxic heavy metals, particularly aluminium and mercury.
Quercetin (particularly high in red apples) – a natural anti-histamine, responsible for dampening allergic reactions such as hayfever or asthma.
Not only that, chewing on an apple stimulates an abundance of saliva, helping to lower levels of bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of dental caries.
So I go the doctor and Metabolic Balance® way and try to eat an apple a day. Most of the time raw (often with two dates and a stick of celery if I'm peckish or before I exercise), sometimes baked for breakfast…
Ingredients:
4 big organic apples
1 tbsp of butter
Drizzles of raw honey
¼ cup of raisins
¼ cup of walnuts or pecans
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
4 big tablespoons of coconut yoghurt
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180C/160F/Gas 4
Wash and core the apples, leaving a few inches at the bottom intact so they are not hollow throughout. Place the apples on a roasting tray. Fill the empty core with raisins (or prunes if you wish), pieces of walnut (or pecans) and tiny knob of butter, and top each apple with a drizzles of raw honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Cover the bottom of the baking dish with hot water (to steam) and bake for 30 minutes whilst you shower for work. Serve with a couple of tablespoons of vanilla coconut yoghurt & some more walnuts, honey and cinnamon.