HISTORY OF APPLE
Apples are one of the oldest cultivated fruits, and are recorded in the writings of almost all of the classic pre-Christian era civilisations. A clay tablet found at the Assyrian city of Nuzi, dated c1500 BC refers to the sale of an apple orchard. Charred apple rings were found in the tomb of Queen Pu-abi at Ur (situated near Basra in present day Iraq) date back 4500 years. Scholars believe the fruit originated hundreds of kilometres further north, where the climate would have been more suited to apple growing. It is also likely apples were being cultivated in Armenia, Georgia, Anatolia (Turkey) northern Mesopotamia and Persia from around this time.
Research carried out in the Soviet Union, and more recently in the newly independent states of the former USSR, suggests that the domestic apple originates from ancient apple forests located in the mountains of eastern Kazakhstan and nearby parts of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The remnants of these forests still exist today, notably in the Zailiiski and Djungarskii mountains in eastern Kazakhstan. The main apple species found in these forests is Malus sieversii. Genetic studies suggest that M. sieversii is the main ancestor of the modern domestic apple, rather than the native European crab apple Malus sylvestris. The history of the modern apple is painstakingly documented in The New Book of Apples, by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards.
Apples were among the fruit enjoyed by the Persian and Roman civilisations and many records attest to the high regard held for the tastiest specimens. At least 20 distinct varieties are mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia, written circa AD 77-79. The Romans were enthusiastic apple growers and took the domestic apple to the far flung parts of the empire, including Britain. Prior to that, the native Celts had used the fruits of the wild native crab apple for food and also the production of alcohol. The crab apple also held an important place in Celtic mythology. The legendary Avalon, the place where King Arthur was taken after fighting Mordred at the Battle of Camlann to recover from his wounds, was the sacred Isle of the Apple Trees.
Following the decline of Roman empire, the skills of apple cultivation were kept alive in northern Europe by religious orders. From about the eleventh or twelfth century, however, the cultivation of apples gradually became to assume a more important role. By the thirteenth century the first apple nurseries had been established in England and the following centuries saw intense rivalry in apple cultivation between different European countries. The development of new apple cultivars probably reached a peak sometime during the 18th and 19th centuries, when countless amateur and professional gardeners were engaged in carrying out their own experiments with cross pollination, careful selection, and the trialling of new varieties grown from pips. The word pippin is used to describe an apple cultivar grown from seed. Apples grown on trees raised from pips frequently exhibit new characteristics not evident in the parent apple. Often these are of no particulate merit but every now and again a new apple cultivar appears which has very desirable attributes such as fine flavour or texture. Probably the most famous of these is Cox's Orange Pippin, raised from a pip by Richard Cox at Colnbrook in Buckinghamshire around 1825. The pip is thought to have originated from a fruit of Ribston Pippin, itself raised in 1708 from one of three apple pips sent from Normandy to Sir Henry Goodricke of Ribston Hall, Knaresborough, Yorkshire.
The Directory of Apple Cultivars published by the Agroforestry Research Trust lists over 3000 individual cultivars - mainly ones from the UK - still in cultivation, and this probably only represents a small fraction of the total number of varieties ever in cultivation worldwide
APPLE BENEFIT :
What makes apples so great?
In 2004, USDA scientists investigated over 100 foods to measure their antioxidant concentration per serving size. Two apples’Red Delicious and Granny Smith’ranked 12th and 13th respectively. Antioxidants are disease-fighting compounds. Scientists believe these compounds help prevent and repair oxidation damage that happens during normal cell activity. Apples are also full of a fibre called pectin – a medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of fibre. Pectin is classed as a soluble, fermentable and viscous fibre, a combination that gives it a huge list of health benefits.
1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.
2. Avoid Alzheimer’s
A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.
3. Protect against Parkinson’s
Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.
4. Curb all sorts of cancers
Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds – triterpenoids – in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
5. Decrease your risk of diabetes
Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.
6. Reduce cholesterol
The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates into lower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.
7. Get a healthier heart
An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.
8. Prevent gallstones
Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.
9. Beat diarrhea and constipation
Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.
10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.
11. Avert hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.
12. Control your weight
Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To manage your weight and improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in fibre will fill you up without costing you too many calories.
13. Detoxify your liver
We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best – and easiest – things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits – like apples.
14. Boost your immune system
Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re stressed out.
15. Prevent cataracts
Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants – like apples – are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.
TYPE OF APPLES :
Red Delicious
This crisp, sweet and juicy apple is the great all-American fruit snack. Its deep red color makes it an attractive addition to salads. Red Delicious apples are not recommended for baking, since they lose much of their flavor when cooked.
Granny Smith
For those who prefer tart to sweet, this is the apple for you. The tart flavor increases when the apple is baked or sautéed. It is available year round and is excellent for pies, applesauce or even a snack.
Golden Delicious
Known as the all-purpose baking apple, the Golden Delicious apple is semi-firm and has a very thin skin. It has a rich sweet flavor that lends itself to snacking, baking, applesauce and pies.
McIntosh
This tart apple is softer in texture than other dessert apples and makes a delicious saucy filling for apple pies. Its soft pink flesh makes a very pretty sauce.
http://www.fruitandnut.ie/apple.html
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples/
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/types-of-apples1.htm
Komentar
Posting Komentar