PICK A PECK OF PREVENTION...the APPLE

It is chilly outside this morning here in beautiful Vermont.
It is Harvest Season, the time of year when summer quickly
slides into autumn. The leaves are changing color from the
lush greens of spring and summer to the radiant ruby, carnelian
and gold tones of the fall. Mornings start out hazy and chilled.

Most days grow pleasantly warm with low humidity and the nights
grow cold. Fields and gardens are being gleaned of their last
produce for the year and in the orchards the apple trees are
wearing their ruby and gold crowns of ripened fruit. It is time
to get out there and pick a peck (or more) of prevention. I love
apples. They are a sweet, tangy, crunchy, satisfying treat, a very
versatile food and so good for you.

It is said that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" and there
is more than a little truth to that saying. Apples are one of the
healthiest foods you can eat. They are heart healthy, help to
prevent cancer, They have no cholesterol, sodium or saturated fat.
They are a natural appetite suppressant. They are high in vitamin C
and in potassium, a vitamin and mineral our bodies need to replenish
daily for our good health and well being, they help to fight off the
common cold and other such viruses and they are a natural toothbrush.
They help to keep your gums and teeth healthy. The apple aids in pre-
venting acute or sudden changes in blood sugar levels and they are good
at keeping your skin healthy. They help to prevent constipation and
aid in curing diarrhea. What is more, this isn't just a bunch of folk
lore, it is fact and scientifically proven to be so. Even the fragrance
of apples seem to do you a world of good. It lifts your spirit and
according to studies I've read (one done by Yale University) even the
cent of the apple lowers blood pressure. Apples are awesome.

There are a wide variety of apples out there in the orchards and they
are all good for you. I have my favorites, McIntosh, Red Delicious and
Granny Smith. I eat all three for snacking but I like the McIntosh or
Granny Smith better for cooking. They make a wonderful pie (now if I
could only make a wonderful crust) I think they have a little more zip
and zest to them than some of the other apples and they seem to keep
better. All apples keep longer if you keep them refrigerated or store
them in a cool, dry place.

It is Harvest Season here in Vermont, a great time to be outdoors. I
love hiking the woods, fields and orchards this time of year and while
I am out there enjoying the wonders of this season, it is a good time
to pick a peck (or more) of prevention, Mother Nature's first aid kit,
the Apple.

Learn more about this author, Annette Bromley.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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