Keeping the Doctor away

[Stan]

Source

Apples proven to reduce health risks

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APPLES are a "nutrition powerhouse" and really do keep the doctor away, according to a new health report.

The comprehensive review of scientific research published in the past 10 years, has found apples are one of the only foods identified to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers - two of the biggest causes of death in Australia.

Apples are also associated with asthma protection, can reduce the risk of type II diabetes and help with weight loss.

The report also found that apples have the highest antioxidant content of all Australia's popular fruits.

The author of The Apple Report, dietitian Shane Landon said yesterday: "Not only does an apple have around one-and-a-half times more antioxidants than a 75g serve of blueberries, it has more than twice the antioxidants of a cup of tea, about three times the antioxidants of an orange and almost eight times the antioxidants of a banana.

"We often hear about new foods hitting the supermarket shelves that have had this or that nutrient added to them during processing, but apples are a natural nutrition powerhouse," Mr Landon said.

Australians eat around one apple a week, but if everyone ate just one more serve of fruit or vegetables every day, the Australian Fruit and Vegetable Coalition estimates more than $150 million a year would be saved on healthcare costs for cardiovascular disease alone.

"The research is compelling and the health message is simple - we must get back to basics," Mr Landon said. "An apple a day is a very good start."

Meanwhile, breast implants, deodorant and coffee are extremely unlikely to cause cancer, according to a new risk report designed to allay panic that everything can be carcinogenic.

The new risk assessment developed by an Australian cancer specialist puts in perspective the risks of contracting the disease from a range of agents, including dental fillings, marijuana and cured meats.

Cigarettes, alcohol, deliberate exposure to sunlight and some relatively rare cancer drugs sit in the highest risk bracket for proven carcinogens, said Professor Bernard Stewart, from the University of NSW and South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health.

Among the "likely" risks were marijuana, solarium use, eating large quantities of processed meats and living near a waste dump.

The professor all but ruled out risk for a range of other rumoured carcinogens including artificial sweeteners, coffee, deodorant, dental fillings, breast implants and fluoridated water.

"No one should seriously lose sleep or change their behaviour in respect of these very, very unlikely things," he said.

[Naomi]

Thank you Stan for sharing such a timely and timeless message. I’m sure we all heard our mother’s say, “An apple a day keeps the Doctor away” or “Eat like a pauper, to have the health of The King.”

Back to the basics, fresh fruits, grains, nuts and plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sounds simple, why is it so difficult?

[Amelia]

I wonder, does applesauce count? I eat more applesauce than apples.