Sure I can eat apple slices with almonds or even a fancy cheese, if I'm treating myself. I love sliced apple on top of my oatmeal and they're great to dip in hummus or peanut butter. That all works, but the act of crunching your front teeth into an apple seems so healthy, fulfilling, alive...yet, for me, it gets old fast.
My simple solution? Eat an apple while taking a walk. I live in Sausalito, CA which is a very walkable town so it's become a daily activity for me when I perform routine tasks like going to the bank or the library to take an apple along. If you live in the country you might put off taking a walk around your neighborhood or at the local reservoir because it can, admittedly, get kinda boring after a while - just like eating an apple! I don't know what it is but walking and eating an apple complement each other perfectly. I not only find myself appreciating the apple - the texture, the complex taste of sweet and tart, the process of chomping and munching and crunching but I find myself slowing down my pace and appreciating my surroundings as well.
Looking at it from a purely scientific level, apples are a great digestive aid - something about the malic and tartaric acids that keep food from fermenting in your stomach - kind of icky, I know, but it's what keeps the proverbial doctor away! You know what else is an effective digestive aid? Yep, a leisurely stroll 20 minutes after a meal.
Listen, I realize I'm not divulging some revolutionary or groundbreaking news with this blog entry today, but sometimes the simplest information can endow the healthiest solution. It's slight changes in attitude and habits that will allow you to live a healthful, and consequently, a joyful life. Just try it, after dinner tonight, skip dessert, grab an apple instead and dig out those walking shoes! The benefits will have you coming back for more!
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