Healthy living

There may be more reasons than simply vitamin C to eat an apple a day.

Scientists have examined the cancer-fighting potential of various chemicals found in the flesh and skin of the fruit. And they have found that together, these chemicals have an effect which far outweighs that of taking only vitamin C.

Researchers at St George's Hospital Medical School, London, have discovered, eating an apple a day may be good for the lungs. The team studied the diets and lung function of more than 2,500 men aged 45-49.

The researchers measured the ability to breathe out sharply using a special test called an FEV1.

They found that good lung function was associated with high intakes of vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, citrus fruits, apples, and fruit juices.

Polyphenols (PP's and OPC's) have been medically linked to human health benefits including immune system regulation, anti-cancer, circulatory and heart disease/stroke reduction, anti-microbial and anti-diabetes.

Apples have antioxidant power many times greater than vitamins C and E - 100g of fresh apples has the antioxidant activity equivalent to 1500mg of vitamin C.

Consuming apple juice may protect against cell damage that contributes to age-related memory loss, conclude researchers investigating the benefits in mice.

They believe their results are down to the rich antioxidant levels in concentrated apple juice. While studies in humans are needed to confirm the benefit to ageing people, the new research adds to previous evidence that fruit and vegetable intake might be good for an ageing brain.

Carrots are also an excellent source of antioxidants, carotenoids and constitute a very rich source of pro-vitamin A carotenes. Beta-Caratene is well known to assist in vision, especially night vision. 

Eating kiwi fruit is clearly a healthy choice, helps prevents Asthma, wheezing and coughing, especially in children. Eating Kiwifruit, protects our DNA from mutations, provides a healthy amount of antioxidants and vitamins while helping prevent colon cancer thanks to high fiber content.

Pears are excellent source of water-soluble fiber.  They contain vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, folic acid and niacin.  It is also rich in copper, phosphorus and potassium, with lesser amounts of calcium, chlorine, iron, magnesium, sodium and sulfur.

Some varieties have more iron content than others.  This can be seen when a cut pear turns brown.  If it doesn't turn brown, it means that the iron content is very low or non-existent.

Eating vitamin C-rich fruit such as kiwifruit may present a significant protective effect against respiratory symptoms associated with asthma such as wheezing.
A study published in Thorax that followed over 18,000 children aged 6-7 years living in Central and Northern Italy found that those eating the most citrus and kiwifruit (5-7 servings per week) had 44% less incidence of wheezing compared to children eating the least (less than once a week). Shortness of breath was reduced by 32%, severe wheeze by 41%, night time cough by 27%, chronic cough by 25%, and runny nose by 28%.