It is chilly outside this morning here in beautiful Vermont. It is Harvest Season, the time of year when summer quickly slides into autumn. The leaves are changing color from the lush greens of spring and summer to the radiant ruby, carnelian and gold tones of the fall. Mornings start out hazy and chilled. Most days grow pleasantly warm with low humidity and the nights grow cold. Fields and gardens are being gleaned of their last produce for the year and in the orchards the apple trees are wearing their ruby and gold crowns of ripened fruit. It is time to get out there and pick a peck (or more) of prevention. I love apples. They are a sweet, tangy, crunchy, satisfying treat, a very versatile food and so good for you.
It is said that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" and there is more than a little truth to that saying. Apples are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They are heart healthy, help to prevent cancer; they have no cholesterol, sodium or saturated fat. They are a natural appetite suppressant. They are high in vitamin C and in potassium, a vitamin and mineral our bodies need to replenish daily for our good health and well being, they help to fight off the common cold and other such viruses and they are a natural toothbrush. They help to keep your gums and teeth healthy. The apple aids in pre- venting acute or sudden changes in blood sugar levels and they are good at keeping your skin healthy. They help to prevent constipation and aid in curing diarrhea. What is more, this isn't just a bunch of folk lore, it is fact and scientifically proven to be so. Even the fragrance of apples seems to do you a world of good. It lifts your spirit and according to studies I've read (one done by Yale University) even the cent of the apple lowers blood pressure. Apples are awesome.
There are a wide variety of apples out there in the orchards and they are all good for you. I have my favorites, McIntosh, Red Delicious and Granny Smith. I eat all three for snacking but I like the McIntosh or Granny Smith better for cooking. They make a wonderful pie (now if I could only make a wonderful crust) I think they have a little more zip and zest to them than some of the other apples and they seem to keep better. All apples keep longer if you keep them refrigerated or store them in a cool, dry place.
It is Harvest Season here in Vermont, a great time to be outdoors. I love hiking the woods, fields and orchards this time of year and while I am out there enjoying the wonders of this season, it is a good time to pick a peck (or more) of prevention, Mother Nature's first aid kit, the Apple.
