Arts Sciences

HOME

Health American Life

The seeds distributed by Chapman were from the European common apple. Today there are some 300 varieties grown in all 50 states. Perhaps, this is the most common of all fruits; we do, after all, have the saying, "...as American as Apple Pie." Archeological digs have uncovered evidence that the apple was a human food as far back as 6500 BC, although then it was more of a Crab Apple.

In England where the apple was plentiful even in Medieval Times, the apple was considered magical. Perhaps, the magic was that the apple was so plentiful. Or maybe it was due to the healing qualities attributed to apples. But, it may just be the Druid connection to the English psyche where the magic of geometry and reverence for trees would have led to an appreciation for the apple core. For, when cut along the equator, the apple reveals its center contains the five pointed star called a pentagram.

Or perhaps, the Druid Healers knew another secret of the apple: it can kill. Within the seeds so intriguingly displayed in the magical Pentagram, is a high level of the poison cyanide. An estimated ½ cup of seeds can kill a full sized adult. It takes considerably less to kill the elderly, sick, or a child. While perfectly safe contained within the Pentagram, if eaten the cyanide can make you sick. The stomach aches attributed to children are considered likely a result of ingestion of seeds and, therefore, cyanide.

In telling this secret of apple seeds, we may run the risk that someone may consider the potential of using apple seeds to kill. Perhaps, this is why so few people seem to be aware of the cyanide content of apple seeds. However, we decided it is important for us to understand that the bitter taste of the seeds is nature's way of warning us away from eating the seeds. A friend mentioned that he had been eating apple seeds all his life. It is going to be interesting to see if his long list of medical problems gets shorter once he stops eating apple seeds. He is, by the way, continual reading healthy living stuff and practices maintaining a good diet. When realizing he had made this error over eating seeds, it became apparent that there may be others who could be giving themselves a cyanide dose with each apple they eat...IF THEY EAT THE SEED. UNLESS EATEN, THE SEEDS WILL NOT POISON THE APPLE OR YOU.

But, apples are magical. Made of sugars, fruit acids, vitamins A, B, C and minerals potassium, magnesium, iron, beta carotene...and pectin which is a soluble form of fiber. Pectin is the magical healing element in apples. "Kaopectate" has been used by most of us in a diarrhea crisis. Pectin is the main ingredient in this over-the-counter remedy.

For diarrhea, the pectin is helpful because it is transformed by bacteria into a soothing coating that protect the intestinal tract while adding bulk to the stool. In addition, certain diarrhea causing bacteria are broken down in the presence of pectin. The bulk adding assists in breaking up constipation and in keeping cholesterol in the intestinal tract until eliminated instead of letting it get into the blood system. In addition to cholesterol, certain cancer causing agents and the heavy metals lead, mercury, arsenic, and copper are bound in the intestines by the pectin and eliminated from the body. And, if that is not enough, apple pectin helps in maintaining blood sugar levels.

The best recommendation for apples came for a friend talking about his grandfather. "He lived to be 92 and claimed it was because he ate two apples with a full glass of water every morning." When asked what killed Grampa, he responded, "We are not sure. At 92 the family convinced him to go to the doctor for a medical checkup. The next day he was dead. And, he always said if he went to the doctor it would kill him."

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.

Arts Sciences

HOME

Health American Life