The Humble Apple

Here in Northern Wisconsin, apple trees grow wild along the road side, their twisting branches intertwined with raspberries and goldenrod. In autumn, the branches grow heavy with fruit, bending almost to the soil, as if calling us to harvest. The apple is abundant and generous, a gift within easy reach.

Need a quick snack, an apple will often suffice. Although apples are among the most commonly consumed fruit in the northern hemisphere, they are often overlooked in today’s swirl of health trends. Perhaps that’s because apples don’t need to be trendy, they’ve been nourishing us all along.

Apples are loaded with phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are like tiny protective shields in our body, helping to protect us. They are non-nutrient components of the fruit or vegetable, some examples are flavonoids and phenolic acids. These all play an important role in helping to protect our body from free radicals and oxidative stress. In short, they may help lower our risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease or Cancer.

Research continues to highlight apples’ remarkable protective effects. Some studies suggest apples may reduce the risk ofc cancers—including breast, lung, and skin—by significant margins, in some cases up to 30%. Other studies are showing apples supporting the lungs and respiratory systems in cases of asthma and pulmonary disease.

Apples are supportive of healthy digestion too.  The pectin in apples acts as a prebiotic, helping to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which helps you to obtain and digest more nutrients from your food.

The pectin in apples acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial bacteria in the gut and helping the body absorb more nutrients from food.Pectin and fiber are also soothing and slightly mucilaginous, creating a calming, protective coating along the intestinal walls, like aloe gel on a burn, though less cooling. Apples promote regularity and can be helpful for both constipation and diarrhea. In many ways, they are one of the most balancing foods for the digestive system.

There is nothing quite as beautiful as being amongst the branches of a ripe apple tree. Filling your pockets or passing them down to a friend creates a sense of hope. The Cider pressing parties that happen in our area, and the pie baking contests really show how apples bring people together.  On dark winter evenings, the scent of hot cider, baked apples, or warm pie fills the air; a bounty of comfort, warmth, and friendship wrapped around this humble fruit.  

Apples nourish not only our bodies, but the bonds between us.From their age-old health benefits to the communities, they weave together, and the simple joy of grabbing one on your way out the door, apples remain one of nature’s most generous gifts.