Importance of fruits in the diet: Nutritional & medicinal properties of apples

It is believed that first food eaten by prehistoric man was a fruit. Every fruit has a story associated with it in the Indian mythology. There is a mention of forbidden fruit even in the Bible. Nutritionally, fruits are good source of salts, minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre that is required to keep a person healthy.

Why are the fruits essential parts of diet?

1. Fruits are efficient source of vitamin C which protects against scurvy.

2. The deep orange and yellow colored fruits are excellent source of beta carotene (beta carotene is a precursor of vitamin A). it protects from nutritional blindness.

3. Some fruits contain fair amount of vitamins of B-complex family

4. Some fruits provide essential and trace minerals

5. Some of the fruits have a good proportion of fibre that helps excretion and prevents constipation.

Medicinal properties of Apples:

1. Apple is believed to prevent scurvy disease that is caused due to deficiency of vitamin C

2. Apple protects a person from digestive disorders and other ailments of the alimentary canal due to fair amount of fibre (indigestible carbohydrates, roughages) present in it.

3. Apple contains a high pectin content and considered useful part of the diet for gall bladder problems. Results of preliminary studies suggest a positive relationship between lung function and consumption of five or more apples per week (Butland, et al., 2000), and inverse relationship between lung cancer risk and foods containing quercetin, found in high concentrations in apples (Le Marchand, et al., 2000).

4. Apple juice is considered beneficial for infant feeding, diarrhoea and peptic ulcer patients. Two apples per day should be consumed for proper evacuation of bowls. Baked apples are said to be useful in treating diarrhoea. Cooking process softens the cellulose.

5. Apple "Murabba" is believed to act as a stimulant for the heart and useful in relieving mental stress.

6. Raw apples may be taken by people suffering from constipation.

7. Two glasses (500 ml) of Apple juice taken half an hour before meals and retiring to bed help in getting rid of anaemia

8. Apple pulp (1-4 tablespoon) is believed to be useful as therapeutic agent in dysentery among children

9. Since apples are rich in potassium and phosphorus but low in sodium, they are believed to help alleviate heart diseases.

10. Apples are known to lower the sodium levels in tissues as these are rich in potassium. Hence, apples are considered very useful for patients having high blood pressure.

11. Apples are prescribed to be included in the diet to flush the stones from the kidney and gall bladder.

12. Apples are believed to promote vitality if taken along with milk.