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One of the first things a child learns is the alphabet,
and almost always, "A is for apple." The apple have been
around for so long that it can be called the first
fruit. Hieroglyphic writings found in the pyramids and
tombs of the ancient Egyptians indicate that they used
the apple both as food and medicine. Not only has it
been at the beginning of alphabet songs, but also at the
centre of legends, folklore, and even religion, for
thousands of years, from Adam and Eve to Johnny
Appleseed. The people of the United States love apples. The state
of Washington produces 32 million boxes of apples a
year. Washington's orchards supposedly began from a
single tree that was planted in 1827 from a seed given
to Captain Simpson of the Hudson Bay Company by a young
woman from London. That tree is still standing!
Years ago, apples were used to relieve gout, skin
eruptions and nerves. They are so popular around the
world that they have all kinds of superstitions and
traditions attached to them. The peasants of Westphalia
used apples mixed with saffron as a cure for jaundice.
There is also a legend in Devonshire, England, that an
apple rubbed on a wart will cure it. On Easter morning,
peasants in a province of Prussia eat apples to insure
against fever. The Turks believe that the apples have
the power of restoring youth.
Today, doctors use apple therapy for stubborn cases of
diarrhoea in patients of all ages, including babies. Raw
apple is cut into very fine slices or used in a
specially prepared concentrate. This treatment is often
used for what is called the "lazy colon," and is also
good for babies who are ready to begin a solid diet.
Many of the essential vitamins and minerals in apples
contain a pre-digested form of fruit sugar which makes
them an ideal fruit for infants and invalids.
When you cook apples, be sure to do so over a very low
flame. It is best to cook them in a stainless steel
utensil, so that the delicate pectin, vitamins, and
minerals will be preserved as much as possible. Apples,
of course, are best raw and are good in various kinds of
salads. There are so many varieties of apples that
almost anyone can find an apple to suit his palate.
Since there are summer, winter, and fall varieties,
apples can be obtained fresh all year round.
Apples are alkaline food. They also contain pectin,
which has the ability to take up excess water in the
intestines and make a soft bulk that acts as a mild,
non-irritating stimulant. This stimulant aids in
natural
bowel elimination.
The iron content of apples is not high, but it has a
property that helps the body absorb the iron in other
foods, such as eggs and liver. It contains a generous
amount of calcium, and this calcium aids the system in
absorbing the calcium in other foods. Apples contain 50
percent more vitamin A than oranges. This vitamin helps
ward off colds and other infections. The vitamin also
promotes growth, keeps the eyes in good condition, and
prevents night blindness. |
