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apple a day

An Apple A Day

The surprising health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.

 

I heard it from every adult in my youth: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. To be honest, I still keep that rule. Not because I believe that apples will actually prevent disease (which they won’t), but because I have found that they keep me mindful of my long-term goals of doing all that I can to stay healthy.

 

Yes – I’m harping on nutrition again, but for good reason. It’s far too easy to get “sucked up into the vortex” (as a friend is fond of saying). The “vortex” in this case is our busy days of impacted schedules that demand every free second. So an apple is a two-fold reminder that (a) we have to pause and refuel and (b) that when we refuel, we must remember that not all food comes in a box (or from a restaurant).

 

Once again, we’ll tap my good friend Dr. Philip Goglia – a certified nutritionist for more than 30 years – for his expert knowledge as an elite performance nutrition and rejuvenative health practitioner. This time, I asked him if there was more to the myth about apples. His answer surprised me.

 

Philip starts out acknowledging that apples actually do have many health benefits. For starters, it’s a fresh fruit – not a boxed item. Diving deeper, he points out that the real health benefits of apples (and of apple cider) are due to phytochemicals in the fruit itself.

 

Phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids from apples may play a key role in reducing instances of some chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Apples are also a source of antioxidants, which protect the body from damage caused by free radicals in the environment. This nutrient, used in small quantities in the form of apple cider vinegar, is where the real magic happens. You can simply add it to your salad as a dressing.

 

Philip gives us dosage instructions for apple cider vinegar: mix 2 tablespoons into a glass of water and drink up to 3 times per day. Apple cider vinegar is the only kind of vinegar that is used for health purposes. How about that?

 

Malic acid in apples spurs on the fat burning process. Fermented, the resulting vinegar contains constructive acids that join with alkaline elements and minerals in the body. This produces a cell “scrubbing effect” to help rid the body of impurities. Double bonus – the vinegar also contains high levels of potassium, which adds an antiseptic quality and also helps eliminate fat deposits.

 

There’s enough science in Philip’s observations about apple cider vinegar to keep a graduate student busy for years. For instance, he mentions alkalizing properties of the vinegar. Not only does it help with ‘cleansing’ – it also helps with digestion, especially for people who do not produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomach. Apple cider vinegar can help you digest acidic foods, such as meat, dairy or beans and nuts. Little surprise then that he prescribes apple cider vinegar as a natural cure for both constipation and diarrhea.

 

How about this one? Apple cider vinegar can adjust the pH level of your skin. What does that do? It may help reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria, thus decreasing body odor. Philip cites prolonged use of the vinegar both inside and out – diluted and applied directly to the skin of the armpits and feet – to reduce body odor.

 

Although there’s no rigorous research for apple cider vinegar, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of its benefits. Some people have reported that regular and prolonged use can produce some relief for Type II diabetes. Philip believes that some natural components of apple cider vinegar might be able to slow and control the rise in blood sugar after a meal is eaten. In combination with a sensible diabetic diet, apple cider vinegar can help alleviate some of the symptoms that accompany this disease such as fatigue, weakness, unquenchable thirst and frequent urination.

 

All that from apples. As Philip works with me to bring the 4D Health concept to my patients – nutritional wellness of our patients is our first level of concern.

 

To your greatness!

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