This recipe I stumbled upon in the Candida summit I attended in summer of 2018. One of the doctors was discussing the role of the microbiome in immunity and in the context of candida. He introduced me to a recipe I though was easy enough to implement. Cooked apples. All you need is a stainless steel pot, 5-6 organic apples, washed and chopped (do not peel), filtered water and manuka honey.
- 5-6 apples
- 2tbsp manuka honey
- filtered water
Place the chopped apples in the pot. Fill enough water to cover the apples. Add the honey. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 8 minutes or until the apples are soft.
Nutritional benefits
Apples-These apples cooked like this brings out the pectin, which is great for your gut bacteria. Pectin can also significantly lower cholesterol levels and triglycerides. Apples are low in calories and sugar, and they have potassium, vitamin K, B6, manganese and vitamin C. Apples contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Apples also contain natural sources of boron, that is important for sex hormones.
Manuka Honey-A superfood indeed! There are components in manuka honey that aid in digestion and improve microbial balance. That is because manuka contains prebiotics that is food for your gut. Manuka in itself has anti-bacterial properties, due to a compound called methylglyoxal. It is not found in all honey, mostly in manuka. This makes it an effective antibacterial agent against pathogens in the stomach, such as H. pylori that is very commonly found in gastritis and peptic ulcers, or C. diff, a common cause of chronic diarrhea. And Manuka does not have the problem antibiotics do, it does not cause bacterial resistance! Manuka honey is great on skin infections as well.
Manuka honey can also stimulate your immune system because it contains arabinogalactans and apisimin, that can stimulate macrophages to produce compounds to fight infections. Manuka can stimulate monocytes to release cytokines. Manuka is thought to be able to produce large amounts of TNF-a. Manuka can modulate inflammation though various mechanisms that reduce free radical damage and oxidative stress. Interestingly, Manuka is being used to treat other GI conditions such as GERD, IBD, ulcers, and dyspepsia.
References
Axe, J. (n.d.) 10 Health Benefits of Apples. Retrieved https://draxe.com/apple-nutrition/
The Superfoods. (n.d.) 6 Benefits of Manuka Honey in Digestive Health. Retrieved https://www.thesuperfoods.net/manuka-honey/6-benefits-of-manuka-honey-in-digestive-health