The proverbial apple a day can keep the neurologist away–and the oncologist, say Cornell University investigators. Rats fed the equivalent of an apple a day were 17 percent less apt to develop breast cancer. Eating the equivalent of three apples a day cut risk 44 percent. Further, apple antioxidants, mainly quercetin, protected rats’ nerve cells from the type “oxidative” damage that triggers neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, researchers found. Quercetin is also high in onions and berries. (Chang Y. Lee, J of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Dec. 2004) (Rui Hai Liu, J Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Mar., 2005)
To your brain health,
Daniel
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Do apples have effect on psychiatric illnesses such as depression (all types: major, bipolar, dysthemia…), obsessisive compulsive disorder (OCD), ADD?
What’s the effect of protein.
How did rats manage to eat three apples? Did they get an extract that can be consumed by humans. Ofcourse, the fruit is better with all its fiber, but few folks will eat more than one a day and most of us are at least 150 time heavier than rats, right?
So what would be the dose for us humans and what other foods should be in the diet?
Wonderful to hear of the great good apples can do for our bodies! And onions as well. I have a question about what garlic can do for us. Any research on that and the brain? I have lived in the Philippines for the last 19 years and see that Filipinos eat a lot of garlic. Traditional meals are cooked beginning with a little onion, garlic and often tomato. Ginger is a frequent ingredient in many traditional meals cooked in the provinces where we have lived. Just wondering.
Another frequent ingredient is the leaves from the Malonggay tree. The translation for that is horseradish, but I’m not sure that is accurate. In Africa this tree is called the tree of life. The leaves are small – about the size of a finger nail and oval in shape. I would be interested in any research you are aware of on these food items.
Thank you so much, and God bless.
Alberta Knudtsen, missionary in the Philippines for the past 19 years.
Have you heard of “Foods for Thought”? This is a program you can buy to use with communities on good choices for food for the mind. At lifestylematters.com
This is a program by nutritionists to encourage folks for good food choicees. One of the DVD presentations shows an alternative public school in WI, that went from many behavioral problems to none, by changing the diet.
Excellent program. My nursing students and I hosted this for a community. The recipees were absolutely delicious!
Thank you for the info. I work at a school and am appalled at what these kids get for breakfast. If only parents knew what a difference a healthy diet could do for their children. I will try and get the good news out to as many as I can!
Thanks for the great website. I work at a school and am appalled at what these kids get for breakfast. If only parents knew what a difference a healthy diet could do for their children!
Dear Dini -There is hope for those who won’t can’t or don’t get enough fruits and vegetables to meet the recommendation of the American Cancer Society, the American Dietetic and the American Heart Association and it is called Juice Plus+. It is 17 fruits, vegetables and whole grains in a capsule or chewable. It is the phytonutrients of whole food not just a few isolated ingredients like vitamin C or A. There are 22 current and past research projects done on this product including an ongoing one with the National Institute of Health, our governments research arm. I am a Neurotherapist and a Psychotherapist and I along with thousands of health professionals support this product. You can listen to what these professionals say at http://www.juiceplus.com/+rb73554. There is a Children Health Study with 50,000 participants that shows the importance for kids.
TRY FRS for lots of Quercitin without the calories. Free trial from the website.
Question – when it says “rats fed the equivalent of an apple a day,” what does that mean?
Does it mean, rats fed applesauce or something apple-like that is equivalent to an apple, or does it mean rats fed what would be the equivalent of a human eating a single apple (I suppose that would be 1/15th of an apple or something like that)?
The difference in that meaning has huge implications in the understanding the value of the research finding, and in how to act on it … Thanks!!
- Jennifer
I have had experience with rats as pets. I know that they can eat fresh fruits and veggies. I assume that scientists would know this too.
So, when it says the equivalent of one apple a day, I assume they were fed fresh apple pieces, likely a tenth of a small apple. I know that when giving rats supplements and such that we are to give them a tenth of a human dose.
And here’s a shameless plug.
Rats make great pets. http://www.ratfanclub.org/
We shouldn’t forget that apples are also an excellent source of the mineral boron (0.5 to 1 mg each). Boron has modulating effects on hormones (estrogen, testosterone, PTH, and thyroid) and nutrients (calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D). What’s more it has been demonstrated to have effects on brain wave activity. People low in boron had more problems with memory, alertness, attention and eye-hand coordination. Other good sources of boron are raisins, grapes/grape juice, avocados, bananas, peanuts, and nuts.
Or it could be the malic acid content of the apples cleansing the liver as Liver encephalopathy can be very detrimental to brain function and hormonal balance.
What about milk added to that. the benifits of the acid alklyn balance. Have you checked out the A@B method of eating yet like I asked you to? It also jhelps the brain. Apples and milk first thing in themoring? Dr. I appreciate what you have done. My friend got the course and he appreciates it also. He is 83 and very healthy. I am ready your Bibliography for more sources. Anna