Lower Inflammation and Avoid Pain
Video by Dr. Justin Thompson
Lower Inflammation and Avoid Pain with a Daily Green Smoothie
As the seasons change, so does the availability of fruits! It is the start of fall which means it is apple picking season. So, for this month’s green drink, I wanted to incorporate some locally grown Honeycrisp apples! They are my favorite apples and pack a nutritious punch. There is a reason for the saying; “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”! In addition to the apples, we added the super greens of spinach and arugula, banana, and coconut milk. The coconut milk can be subbed with a vanilla almond milk if you wish to have a creamier taste. Adding your essential nutrients is an efficient way to make sure you are not forgetting them. Don’t forget, a smoothie a day keeps inflammation at bay!
Apples have a wide variety of health benefits. Most notably, apples are high in fiber which aids in digestions. The soluble fiber found in Honeycrisp apples helps the body eliminate excess cholesterol. The Honeycrisp apple also contains potassium which could help balance the levels of excess sodium in the bloodstream which would reduce the symptoms of high blood pressure. Apples are also excellent for your oral health. They contain antiadehisve properties which promotes gum and teeth health. When you combine moving, eating, and thinking well with regular consumption of fruits and veggies, you can experience vast health benefits. Give this smoothie a try! Feel free to experiment with other fall flavors if you like!
Research
“In the laboratory, apples have been found to have very strong antioxidant activity, inhibit cancer cell proliferation, decrease lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol.”
“Apples significantly lowered lipid oxidation both in humans and rats and lowered cholesterol in humans. These effects, which may be attributed to both the phenolics and the dietary fiber found in apples, may partially explain the inverse association of apple intake and risk of cardiovascular disease.”
“Grobler and Blignaut[7] conducted a research on 95 apple farm workers, 109 workers from grape farms and 50 controls employed in the grain farms and came to a conclusion that periodontal health appeared worse in the control than the other two fruit workers.”
Recipe
- 2 chopped apples with skin (Species of apple is up to you)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 handful of greens (spinach, arugula, kale)
- 1-2 cups of coconut or almond milk as needed for desired consistency (vanilla flavoring optional)
- Daily dosage of essential nutrients
- 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (optional)
Resources
Boyer, J., Liu, R.H. Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits. Nutr J 3, 5 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-3-5
Grobler SR, Blignaut JB. The effect of a high consumption of apples or grapes on dental caries and periodontal disease in humans. Clin Prev Dent 1989;11:8‑12.
Our Message
We love to help our patients in McKinney stay healthy. We are here to relieve back pain, neck pain and headaches while also teaching about how our diet and stress effects our over all health. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as the chiropractic adjustment and getting the proper nutrients to stay healthy. Our Doctors, near the corner of Eldorado Pkwy. and Stonebridge Rd., want to help you stay healthy and out of pain!