The Incredible Magic of Apples
Herbal medicine is a continuum with food at one end and toxic herbs at the other. Some medicine we eat everyday to nourish us while others are used in very particular circumstances. It’s easy to forget to celebrate the life-giving properties of food we eat everyday and the impact it has on our wellness.
Yesterday as apple harvesting on the farm, an indication that autumn is quietly and steadily approaching- a season of abundance and preparation. We harvest and gather nature’s gifts and prepare for the barren and cold ahead.
This experience made me want to talk about apple medicine! I love the sweet, sour and cooling nature of apples. My favourite snack is to slice up apples and enjoy them with whatever nut butter I have in the fridge.
The magical benefits of apples:
Counteract dryness and nourish fluids to moisten the lungs, which can help if you have dry mouth, throat or a cough.
Lifts the mood and helps alleviates depression by tonifying the heart, mind and spirit.
Provides a whopping 4 grams of fibre per serving, along with loads of flavonoids and pectin which protect you from cancer, heart disease and Type II diabetes.
Mentally, apples help you get focused as you consolidate and prepare for the seasons ahead.
How to eat apples:
The peel is super important for getting the maximum benefits from an apple. The best thing you can do is choose organic apples that are free from pesticides and eat it with the peel on.
If you are struggling with digestion, try cooking your apples and eat them warm to provide extra nourishment to the Stomach and Intestines.
If you’re finding the high levels of fibre is still giving you a hard time even when the apple is cooked, go ahead and peel it before you cook it.
Adding apples into your diet is a simple yet powerful way to enhance both your physical and emotional well-being. As a food AND a medicine, the magic of the apple is to remind us of the care and nurture that nature offers us in abundance. By supporting our bodies and minds, apples can help us stay grounded and healthy for the changing seasons.
Next time you enjoy an apple, remember you’re embracing a gift from nature that supports your overall health.