Apple: Stock up on the super fruit

Can an apple a day keep the doctor away? Well, the apple is indeed a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Its consumption has been associated with the reduced risk of cancer particularly lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and type 2 diabetes. There are 7,000 varieties of apple and all have varying contents of vitamin C and vitamin E—powerful antioxidants that boost immunity and slow ageing.
A crucial element in apples is pectin, a soluble fibre that helps lower cholesterol, bind toxic metals such as mercury and lead, and excrete them out of the body. Cooked apples help relieve diarrhoea, dysentery and colitis. One large apple a day has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol levels by eight to 11 per cent. Pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and helps manage diabetes. Pectin's gelling property helps in making apple jams and jellies.

Apples and apple juice are rich in phytochemicals (plant chemicals) including flavanoids and polyphenols. Polyphenols such as tannins (tannic acid) are potent enemies of viruses like the herpes simplex virus that causes blisters on the skin and sores around the mouth or genitals. Tannins have anti-oxidant properties, which help in cancer prevention. A recent study reported that the risk of colorectal cancer was reduced by about 50 per cent on intake of more than one apple a day. Tannins are also astringent, which may be why cooked apples help in diarrheoa management.

Quercetin, a flavanoid present in high concentration in apples, has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, cholesterol-lowering and anti-cancer properties. A recent study reported that combined apple pectins and polyphenols lowered cholesterol and triglycerides by a much greater extent than either apple pectin or polyphenols.

Two polyphenols -- phloridzin and phloretin xyloglucoside -- in apples have, till date, not been found in any other fruit. Not only are apples exceptionally rich in phenols, they also have the highest concentration of "free phenols", which means they are more available for absorption into the blood stream. The antioxidant capacity of one apple is equivalent to about 1,500 mg of vitamin C (although one apple has only about five mg of vitamin C).

Apple peels have more antioxidant compounds, especially polyphenols and vitamin C, than the flesh. A peel provides two to six times (depending on the variety) more phenolic compounds than the flesh, and about two to three times more flavanoids.

It has also been reported that people with the highest consumption of apples had a lower risk of thrombotic stoke compared to the ones with the lowest consumption. Apple consumption has been inversely linked with asthma and has also been positively associated with pulmonary health.

Apart from being rich in nutrients, they are also a great bonus for weight watchers and diabetics. With a low glycemic index (which means the carbohydrates break down slowly and release glucose gradually into the blood), apples dampen appetite, keep you going for longer, are low in calories and help maintain blood sugar levels.

Apple cider vinegar, made by fermenting apple juice, has been used by naturopaths for curing hyper acidity, asthma, arthritis, sinustis and improving absorption of nutrients like calcium.

Malic and tartaric acid present in the apple regulate stomach acidity and help in digestion of protein and fat. Concentration of malic acid in apples is especially high, which accounts for it often being called "apple acid." Because of its role in cellular energy production, malic acid may help individuals suffering from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia (muscle and connective tissue pain).

No doubt, apples with their high antioxidant properties, fibre content, low glycemic index and hytochemicals, have been recognised as superfoods.

Tangy fruits help stay slim

Munching on tangy fruits can help you stay slim, reveals a new study.

The study conducted on mice showed that the juice of the blood orange stopped them from piling on weight when fed a high-fat diet.

However, those fed with sweeter oranges gained significant amounts of fat.

The research team from University of Milan believe the fat-busting powers of the fruit, grown in Italy and the US, may be partly due to its high levels of anthocyanin.

Herbal cure not good for asthma patients

Asthma patients using herbal remedies may make their quality of life worse and suffer from increased frequency of symptoms, a new study claims.

A study conducted by American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology observed 326 asthma patients over a 33-month period.

Of those, 25 percent reported herbal remedy use and lower adherence to use of prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

It was learnt that patients using herbal remedies were more likely to have been hospitalized or intubated for asthma.

Also, they had concerns about possible adverse effects of ICS and difficulty following a medication schedule.

Angkana Roy, M.D., lead author, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, said: "Results indicate patients using herbal remedies are less likely to take their prescribed medications.

"These patients report worse asthma control and poorer quality of life than patients who follow medication plans. Underuse of prescribed medication is one of the main factors contributing to poor outcomes in asthma patients."

Also, Leonard Bielory, M.D., ACAAI Integrative Medicine Committee chair, added: "Patients interested in herbal remedies need to use them to complement treatment and not as an alternative, or they will not maximize their health and may actually hinder it as this study shows.

"Remember, asthma is a serious disease and needs to be treated that way. Always ask your allergist about medication concerns and discuss use of herbal remedies."

The study has been published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of ACAAI. (ANI)

Doctors' do's and dont's for epilepsy

The following are do's and dont's for epilepsy:

Do's:

-Take medicines without fail.

-Avoid quacks.

-Make patient lie down on one side if there is an attack.

-Remove sharp objects from near the person.

-Babies born at home may be at risk of getting epilepsy.

Dont's:

-Don't eat unwashed or partially cooked green leafy vegetables. They could have tapeworms, which cause epilepsy.

-Don't pin down a person getting an epileptic attack.

-Don't put anything into the mouth of patients during an attack.

Gloomy Kids

Early abuse linked to more depression in kids

Early abuse is associated with more depression in children, a new study has found.

According to a new study of low-income children, although children can be depressed for many reasons, new evidence suggests that there are physiological differences among depressed children based on their experiences of abuse before age 5.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center, has been published in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.

Children who experience maltreatment, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect, grow up with a lot of stress. Cortisol, termed the "stress hormone," helps the body regulate stress. But when stress is chronic and overloads the system, cortisol can soar to very high levels or plummet to lows, which in turn can harm development and health.

The researchers studied more than 500 low-income children ages 7 to 13, about half of whom had been abused and/or neglected, to find out whether abuse early in life and feelings of depression affected their levels of cortisol. High levels of depression were more frequent among children who were abused in the first five years of their lives than among maltreated children who weren't abused early in life or children who weren't maltreated at all.

Dante Cicchetti, McKnight Presidential Chair and professor of child development and psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, who led the study, said: "The results of this study have significant implications for children in the child welfare population and underscore the importance of providing early preventive interventions to children who have been abused." (ANI)

Get Youthful Skin

You should use a good facewash and a sunscreen with SFP 30 or more regularly. Preferably every morning and if possible reapply it after 2 hours. Before going to bed use a medicated skin lighting cream with 2% hydroquinone-available at your local medical shop. Use this only on the blemishes. However, if you feel any irritation, stop using it and consult a dermatologist. You could also try some home remedies. Apply a paste of cream(malai)and turmeric(haldi), 3 to 4 times a week. You can also make your own face pack with mashed fresh fruits and a little honey.

Maya, 34, was diagnosed with SLE(lupus)seven years ago and her skin has deep sc sc ars rs as a result. She wants to know about the best anti-ageing products and skincare routine for her.

Maya, you need to use a good sunscreen regularly, preferably with SPF 50. Here are some more easy tips for your daily skincare that will benefit you greatly.

1. Use a facewash for dry and sensitive skin.

2. Avoid using scrubs.

3. A sunscreen should be fine during the day, but if your skin still feels dry, you could use a moisturiser with anti-oxidants and vitamins in addition to it. Try products from L'Oreal, Olay, Avon and Vichy-they are good options.

4. Use a night serum with AHA(alpha hydroxyl acids). It will serve as an anti-ageing cream and also help reduce scars.

5. I also suggest you avoid using aromatic products. Such products contain fragrances and colours that may not suit your sensitive skin and cause some irritation.