Apples - a Biblical Health Food

The Old Testament of the Holy Bible states these words of King Solomon, "Comfort me with apples, for I am sick..." Did he know something about the apple way back then? The poor apple, which first got maligned in the book of Genesis with the Adam and Eve story in the Garden of Eden, has had a tough time overcoming that poor publicity. The fact is, they probably didn't even see an apple, much less eat one.

During Bible times, an ancient, unknown Arabic author wrote, "Its scent cheers my soul, renews my strength and restores my breath." The ancient Greeks believed the apple healed all kinds of ailments. It seems that King Solomon wasn't the only one who found the apple to be healthful.

More modern health researchers have proven the benefits of apples. At Michigan State University, scientists called the apple "...the all-around health food."

Eating two or three apples a day can boost the body's protection against heart disease suggest nutritionists. How can that be? The apple has an amazing ability to reduce blood pressure and lower high cholesterol levels. Some scientists believe the fruit has chemicals that help stop cancer and also prevent tooth decay.

An animal study at the Institute of Physiology in France came to the conclusion that a diet heavy in apples can lower cholesterol level anywhere from 28 to 52 points. One reason may be the pectin in the apple. This pectin along with other natural chemicals in the apple, forms a shield around the heart that prevents cardiovascular disease. The apple was also found to boost the HDL, or "good" cholesterol while reducing the LDL, or "bad" cholesterol.

Apples are great for diabetics and others who need to control blood sugar levels. They are a rich source of natural sugar, yet they don't cause a rapid rise in blood sugar.

Scientists at Yale University's Psychophysiology Center found that the scent of spiced apple has a calming effect on people and helps lower blood pressure. Wow, that's pretty amazing!

Apples are a great food for dieters. When a person eats an apple, the rise in blood glucose levels goes up slowly enough that the person has a full feeling and eats less. This doesn't seem to work with apple juice. You need to eat a whole apple.

Another study as Michigan State was conducted on 1,300 students. It was found that those who regularly ate apples over a three-year period made one-third fewer visits to the campus health center than non-apple eaters.

For those of you who don't like the skin of an apple, there's some bad news. To get the complete health benefit, you must eat the entire apple, skin and all. (You don't need to eat the core) While apple juice is good, it doesn't replace the fact that the apple itself is the magic fruit here.

An amazing aspect of apples is it can take care of opposite problems; diarrhea and constipation. Apples and applesauce have been used for ages to help people get back to a regular diet after some diarrhea problems. It seems that the pectin in the apple is the healing factor. That probably explains why pectin is used in Kaopectate, an over-the-counter diarrhea remedy. Also, that same fiber, pectin, is what dietitians have been telling us is great for the prevention of constipation. Go figure!

The people of the Bible probably discovered the natural teeth cleaning and cavity prevention quality of apples by chance. Modern scientists have confirmed that fact in the laboratory.

Maybe the Bible not only gives us spiritual healing but also natural healing.