An apple a day? Really?

I know that in mainstream circles, apples are consider healthy. You might have even heard the expression, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Even most crunchy types, from vegans to paleos (cavemen? what do paleo eating people call themselves?), like apples. But I'm sorry to burst your bubble. Here are 3 reasons why those apples may not be as healthy as you think.

1) High in Sugar. 
It's frustrating because you think you are a doing a good thing by including an apple in your children's lunchboxes next to their pb&J but did you know a medium sized apple has 19 grams of Sugar. 19 grams. That's more than 3 sugar packets worth. And yes, it's a different type of sugar but still, that seems high for a "healthy" snack.

2) High in Fiber
That medium sized apple also contains 20% of the USDA's daily fiber recommendation. Again, one might think that's a good thing but people like me who are struggling with leaky guy issues (as well as anyone with auto-immune issues as those are often correlated with leaky guy) should be cautious of fiber. Most of us know to stay away from things like psyllium husks but may unknowingly be overdosing on fiber just by eating a couples apples every day.

3) Poisonous seeds
Apple seeds contain cyandide. Cyandide is a poison that prevents the body from utilizing oxygen. The cyanide is only in the seeds and doesn't normally even interact with our body because the outside of the seed is hard but if you were to eat a lot of apple seeds and chew up the seeds, it could potentially be an issue. Beyond that, I think we need to think about why God would put cyanide in an apple if he wanted us to eat it. I'm not sure he would.

4) Better fruits available. 
I think this is probably the most important. With so many fruit options available, why even bother with apples? That medium sized apple has 14% of the RDA of Vitamin C but an orange has 160% (with only 17g of sugar I might add!). When it comes to potassium, apples aren't on top either. An apple only has 4% of your daily potassium needs. You'd have to eat 25 apples every day, not possible. But one single banana has 24% of your potassium needs. Why choose an apple when you can clearly see a banana or an orange would be a sounder nutritional need. And both bananas and apples taste good with peanut butter so it's a really easy switch to make.

So, I know I have some older recipes on this site that use apples and I'm not going to bother searching through and taking them off. I won't condemn you for either them but I've just decided that for my family, we'll be choosing other fruit. 
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STOP! I really really hope that by know you realize this is sarcastic. I love apples. It's fall and you better believe I'm eating them up. Not enough to get my daily needs of potassium met by apples alone, but close.

This kind of thinking has been around for a while and before it used to make me laugh, I'd roll my eyes and move on. Common sense people! But now on my stricter diet, it's starting to get to me. Because I am having to cut things out and that means that I've having to figure out new things, especially when it comes to grains and their non-grainy replacements.

Gluten - yikes, I'm actually off of this at the recommendation of my doctor. Oats - often cross contaminated with gluten and similar structure so almost as bad. Coconut flour - too fibery. Almond flour - not good for your thyroid. Don't even get me started on sugar and it's many forms. Or dairy. If I listened to everyone, I basically couldn't eat a single thing. Except perhaps apples.

Of course, I still do need to eat. And right now, for me, there isn't an easy answer. I'd love to stick with the old 80/20 rule that has always done me right but right now, my body is saying that's not good enough. Yet I can't get to the point where I'm worried that every single thing I eat is hurting my body. God made people to get our nutrition from food. He didn't have to do that, we could make it from sunshine like plants do if he wanted but He choose food. Food is good.

But even some nutritious food is hurting me (oh bananas, I really miss you). It's like my body isn't listening to my philosophy on food. It's frustrating trying to find the balance between taking responsibility and making good choices and obsessing and worrying until your hair starts falling out and when it does, how do you know if its the worry or your thyroid! Perhaps that's why these types of articles aren't starting to annoy me, they are hitting too close to home. I'm doing my best to make wise decisions as I'm assuming you are. But after that, let's all just relax a bit okay. Now, I'm off to enjoy an apple with peanut butter and maybe even some m&ms on top... just kidding. Or am I?