Gayatri mantra the Universal Prayer

This well known proverb has always been quoted by my mother in an attempt to make me eat apples; I've often wondered if it is truth or myth. Here are some apple truths.



• Apple is an excellent source of pectin, a natural fiber that helps cleanse your digestive tract, prevent colon cancer, beat constipation and diarrhea, and prevent hemorrhoids. It also reduces cholesterol in the body and gives you a healthy heart. A BBC News report claims that if everyone over the age of 50 ate an apple a day, 8500 deaths from heart attacks and strokes could be avoided every year in the UK.

• An apple has only 50-80 calories, no fat, no sodium. It is packed with vitamins C and A, flavonoids and a small amount of iron and calcium. If you are watching your waistline, it is perfect for an afternoon snack, a starter for lunchbox or a dessert after dinner.

• It also acts as a toothbrush, cleans the teeth, kills bacteria and boosts gums health.

• Apple seeds are known to be packed with antioxidants and can help curb cancers.



• Because apples are prone to worms, scale and other insects, pesticides are generously applied over them. Moreover, they are also covered with a thin film of wax to increase shelf lifetime. If you really want to keep the doctor away, better wash your apples carefully, taking care to remove the thin film of wax as well - or better yet, buy organic and/or wax free from your local farmer's market or health store.



• According to Reader’s Digest, sulphur dioxide is often added to dried apples to preserve moistness and color which can provoke allergic reactions in susceptible persons; the message, fresh is best.

So does this mean we will never visit the doctor again if we have an apple a day? No, but it will certainly help in keeping the visits to the doctor at bay. Comment and share your views.




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