An apple a day..

By Chris Fernando

Recipe of the week - Apple stew for diabetics 

One apple
A few drops of almond essence

Method:

Wash and peel the apple. Remove the central core. Chop the pulp and cook in two cups of water until soft.

When cool, blend the contents together with almond essence. Serve hot or cold as desired.

Beauty tip of the week

Cleopatra is said to have used the pulp of mashed apples on her forehead and ancient Egyptians drank apple cider to improve their complexion.

How to buy apples:

Caution:

We now hear that most apples sold in the local market are wax-coated for longer shelf life. Eating such fruits can cause nausea or indigestion. A chemical called "ALAR", which is believed to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) is also used to make apple trees more productive. 

Consumption

Eating apples - these are eaten raw. They should be firm, crisp, juicy and sweet.

Baking type - these should be large, firm and should have a thick skin.

Cooking type - these are used to prepare desserts, pies and salads.

All-purpose apples - these are good for eating, baking, cooking, juicing or drying.

How to use apples:

Apples can also be used to make excellent beverages such as apple cider or apple juice. Apple cider vinegar is an age-old remedy for arthritis.

Apple juice, commonly known as sweet cider is a preparation that has been pasteurised and canned or bottled or frozen to concentrate. 

Dried apples are ideal for snacks, pancakes, stuffing or as a dessert.

Why you should eat apples:

Fibre is necessary to prevent constipation. Foods with fibre are digested slowly, and thereby reduce some of the sugars and the cholesterol in the food. This is why a high fibre diet is recommended for diabetics.

When eaten fresh and raw, they help clean the teeth and exercise the gums. If well chewed, they digest fast. Apple peel is rich in Chromium, which is an essential nutrient.

Apples are rich in Vitamins C, A and B complex. When apples are cooked, a part of the vitamin C and A is destroyed. Apples also have protein in traces.

What you should know about apples:

Apples are relatively low in calories and contain a high concentration of Fructose, a simple sugar sweeter than cane sugar which is metabolized slowly and therefore helps to control blood sugar levels. Therefore, apples are a good source of nutrition for diabetics.

Use in herbal medicine:

Ripe, uncooked apples are traditionally given to treat constipation, while the stewed fruit can be used to control diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis. Apples are also used to treat skin inflammation.

How to store apples

Apples will stay fresh for about two to three days after purchase. They can also be stored in the refrigerator. 

Dangers of over-consumption

There is no evidence to show any bad effects of over-eating apples. But in very rare cases, over consumption can cause a very slight increase in blood sugar levels.
 

Nutritive value of apples

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