Apples Everywhere!

Yes, I know, how predictable - writing about apples in the Fall. But, I wanted to share with you some things that I've learned about apples recently that has given me a whole new appreciation for them. Before, I could care less about apples - I prefer berries and tropical fruits like mango (mmmm.....mango). After listening to one of my favorite speakers, John Douillard, speak about the practice of Ayurveda (the "science of life") and the importance of living in harmony with your environment, I finally got it. When was the last time I saw a mango growing in New England? Mangos are great, but there's a reason why apples grow in abundance in the Fall.

All summer, our bodies accumulate heat. That heat, if we don't do anything about it will dry out and cause digestive distress and excess mucus in the winter. Bad news for the upcoming cold and flu season. So how do we make sure we get rid of that excess heat and prevent accumulation of dryness in our bodies? Just look at what nature gives us - apples! Apples help draw out excess heat from the body and cleanse our intestines of built up impurities to prepare us for the long, dry winter. If this isn't reason enough to eat as many apples as possible in the next month, check out the list of other benefits below:

• helps body cool and disperse accumulation of summer's heat
• high fiber - helps to cleanse the intestines of impurities and heat
• cleanses the body of excessive mucus built up
• sweet and astringent taste - assist in improving intestinal ailments that result from excessive heat
• high in vitamin A, C, and calcium
• benefits low blood sugar conditions and emotional depression associated with it
  

Eat them straight up, chopped up in your cereal or yogurt, dipped in almond butter or honey, enjoy cider, or try baking a delicious pie to take advantages of the medicinal amounts of apples our environment has harvested. Once winter hits, you can still eat apples but they are better eaten cooked with cinnamon - we don't want to "cool" the body down in the coldest time of the year do we?