Scientific Name: Malus Pumila
Biological Background: Apple was originated in Asia Minor. It has been cultivated for thousands of years and today is the most cultivated fruit tree in the world.
Nutritional Information: A typical medium-sized apple (212 g) provides 125 calories (most from fructose), 0.4 g protein, 6.6 g fiber, 244 mg potassium, 12 mg vitamin C, and traces of other minerals and vitamins.
Pharmacological Activity: Apple is one of the best sources of flavonoids and a good source of dietary fiber (pectin), which are responsible for most of apple’s disease-fighting properties. Flavonoids and pectin in apple help fight heart diseases (stroke and high blood cholesterol), cancers (breast and ovarian), and constipation. Apples also have mild antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and estrogenic activity. In addition, apple can suppress appetite, thus having an apple before a meal can help control weight.
Eating Tips: Most of flavonoids and fiber are in the apple peel. And the colorfulness of an apple reflects the amount of flavonoids. Therefore, to get the most health benefit from apples, eat two bright-colored and unpeeled apples a day.
Selasa, 09 Maret 2010
Food Allergies and Food Intolerance
We are on the brink of new health revolution. It is finally being accepted by more and more people that many chronic illness, physical and mental, often going undiagnosed for years and suffered by thousands of people, are caused partially or wholly by allergies and intolerances to the foods that most of us eat every day of our lives.
Food allergy refers to an immediate, often dramatic reaction such as a sore mouth, an itchy red skin rash, an attack of asthma, etc. Blood and skin tests for the allergenic food are positive. In this case, your immune system overreacts, and mistakenly identifies innocent compounds, for example, cows milk or nuts, as enemies like bacteria and viruses. This mistake throws the immune system into a chain reaction of alert. It produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E or IgE to lunch an attack on the false threats (antigens), releasing histamines and other chemicals that provoke the symptoms of allergies.
Food intolerance is in a sense similar to the case of classical food allergies, the body responds abnormally; however, the reactions may be subtle and more difficult to detect. It takes much longer for the complaints to come on. It takes more food to trigger the reactions, and blood and skin tests for the food may turn up either positive or negative. The immune system does not produce IgE. Food intolerance may cause a rage of maladies:
Gastrointestinal complaints: stomach ache, irritable bowel, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis
Skin complaints: itching, eczema, acne, hires
Joint and muscle complaints: atypical pains, rheumatoid arthritis
Headache and migraine
Pre-menstrual syndrome
Hypoglycemia
Depression and anxiety.
Food allergy refers to an immediate, often dramatic reaction such as a sore mouth, an itchy red skin rash, an attack of asthma, etc. Blood and skin tests for the allergenic food are positive. In this case, your immune system overreacts, and mistakenly identifies innocent compounds, for example, cows milk or nuts, as enemies like bacteria and viruses. This mistake throws the immune system into a chain reaction of alert. It produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E or IgE to lunch an attack on the false threats (antigens), releasing histamines and other chemicals that provoke the symptoms of allergies.
Food intolerance is in a sense similar to the case of classical food allergies, the body responds abnormally; however, the reactions may be subtle and more difficult to detect. It takes much longer for the complaints to come on. It takes more food to trigger the reactions, and blood and skin tests for the food may turn up either positive or negative. The immune system does not produce IgE. Food intolerance may cause a rage of maladies:
Gastrointestinal complaints: stomach ache, irritable bowel, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis
Skin complaints: itching, eczema, acne, hires
Joint and muscle complaints: atypical pains, rheumatoid arthritis
Headache and migraine
Pre-menstrual syndrome
Hypoglycemia
Depression and anxiety.
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