Botanical: Malus domestica (also known as Malus pumila)
Family: Rosaceae (rose) - Pomaceae (apple/pome)
Other common names: Cultivated Apple, Domesticated Apple
The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the Apple's a rose.
Robert Frost - Poet
Apple Fiber is a natural way to promote normal cholesterol and maintain blood-sugar levels, as well as support healthy blood pressure levels.
It helps lower cholesterol levels by binding with cholesterol and fats before they are absorbed in the body and swiftly eliminates them from the intestinal tract, which helps to reduce the risk of coronary problems. This action also slows absorption of dietary sugar after meals, working to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Apple has long been considered the "King of Fruits " with life-giving properties, and Apple Fiber is a great way to help regulate bowel function, managing both constipation and diarrhea. It also works as a colon cleanser to remove toxic substances from the colon and support overall healthy colon function. Apple Fiber is a great way maintain healthy digestion and inhibit absorption of many carcinogenic toxins.
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
The geographic origin of the Apple has not been firmly established, but the tree probably originated in the area between the Caspian and Black Seas. For many years, there was a debate about whether Malus domestica evolved from chance hybridization among various wild species, but recent DNA analysis completed by the Department of Plant Sciences at Oxford University has indicated that the hybridization theory is probably false. Instead, it appears that a single species still growing in the Ili Valley on the northern slopes of the Tien Shan Mountains at the border of northwest China and the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan is the progenitor of the Apples we eat today. Charred remains of apples have been found in the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland, and archaeological data indicate consumption of Apples since 6500 B.C. By the sixth century B.C., Roman horticulturists were boasting seven different kinds of apples. As first described in De Agricultura by Cato the Elder, a second-century Roman statesman, they began by taking cuttings from a tree that had desirable qualities and grafted these onto sturdy rootstocks to produce apples of good quality and establish a number of consistent varieties. Apples were a favorite fruit of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and in the second century A.D., Galen, court physician to emperors and gladiators, prescribed it for virtually every ailment. One of Apple's botanical descriptions, Pomaceae, is derived from the Latin translation for fruit tree (pomum), although the Apple's official botanical family is Rose. It is classified as a pome, a fruit that has many tiny seeds within a core at the center, as opposed to the stone group of fruits. The Apple was introduced to America by early settlers who brought the seeds with them, and records of the Massachusetts Bay Company note that Apples were grown in New England as early as 1630. The seeds were then carried westward by missionaries, traders and Native Americans. The Massachusetts pioneer, John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), was responsible for extensive plantings in Ohio and Indiana. Cultivated for many centuries, Apple growing is a highly specialized business, and today, Apples are cultivated in such widely diverse areas as the United States, Canada, China, Italy, Poland, Germany, France and Turkey, among others. It is said that the Apple is a magical blend of sucrose and fructose (two forms of natural sugar), ninety percent malic acid and ten percent citric acid, tannins (astringent) and a mixture of 250 trace chemicals, such as volatile esters, alcohols and aldehydes.
Apple Fiber helps to promote normal bowel function and is considered an effective, mild colon cleanser. It is excellent for illnesses involving diarrhea; and on the other hand, when a mild laxative is needed for constipation, Apple Fiber can do it. The fiber gives substance to the stool, helping to resolve both diarrhea and constipation problems; furthermore, it is believed to combat several types of diarrhea-causing bacteria and promote healthy intestinal flora.
Apple Fiber is especially good for maintaining healthy blood-sugar levels. This soluble fiber is a substance that is said to help prevent a sudden increase or drop in serum sugar levels and therefore helps normalize blood sugar. The fiber impedes absorption of glucose in the bloodstream and may help regulate blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of dietary sugar.
Apple Fiber has the effect of binding certain antioxidant, disease-causing compounds in the colon and helping to speed their elimination from the body. The fiber assists the body in removing toxic metals (such as lead, mercury and strontium) from the system without being absorbed into the body and thereby cleanses and protects the colon from serious problems, including malignant disease.
The high pectin content in Apple Fiber is said to significantly decrease the concentration of serum cholesterol levels. Apple Fiber appears to inhibit absorption of cholesterol by binding with and removing fats before they are absorbed in the body, and by helping to reduce blood cholesterol levels, platelet aggregation (blood clotting) is dimished and blood circulation is improved, which may be helpful in lowering the risk of arteriosclerosis, heart ailments and stroke. It is also said to act as an antioxidant against the damaging portion of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Apple Fiber is also thought to combat high fat in the body.
As a soluble fiber, the same action that works to decrease serum cholesterol levels works to impede absorption of glucose in the bloodstream, and thus, Apple Fiber (like Apple Pectin) may help to lower blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of dietary sugar. Because it slows the absorption of food after meals, Apple Pectin may be helpful for people with high blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of dietary sugar after meals.
Apple Fiber has been used to improve a sluggish liver and support kidney health.
Apple Fiber is said to tone the gastrointestinal system and stimulate healthy digestion. It is highly beneficial for hyperacidity by coating and soothing irritated intestinal linings.
An ancient cure-all, the tea made from Apple was a traditional remedy for rheumatic illness. Apple Fiber has long been used for the relief of the temporary discomforts of joint pain and stiffness associated with rheumatism. The fiber is thought to help dissolve acid crystal deposits in joints and may also good for arthritis.
Contraindications: Currently, there are no known warnings or contraindications with the use of Apple Fiber.