January, the start of a new year. A fresh start! A time to focus on your intentions and commitments for the year. And a wonderful time for nutritious food to nourish your body. A little self-care!

This is a second article in my series of nourishing foods and recipes for the month of January. A way to support you in taking care of yourself this month. Did you miss the first one? You can find it here.

​St. Hildegard shared many of her thoughts about natural healing, nutrition, and healthy living in her book, Physica, including recommendations for specific foods with health-giving nutrients. Her list of recommended fruits included such powerhouse foods as red and black currants, raspberries, blackberries, and apples.

Yes, apples!  The simple, common fruit that’s easily found almost any time of the year.

​I’m sure you’ve heard the adage since you were a child, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But you may not have heard of the wisdom of St. Hildegard on this healthy fruit. She shared that apples can be easily digested and eaten raw by healthy people. They’re best cooked or baked for the ill and can also be enjoyed by the healthy in this form.

Apples are quite a satisfying snack, both sweet and crunchy. Eating a raw apple that’s high in water content and rich in fiber will help you feel satisfied and full.

Apples also take time to eat, one bite at a time, so they help you slow down in eating! A wise way to curb cravings.

I love baking apples in the oven in the winter. Such a warm and sweet aroma in the kitchen! Add a few favorite spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves that St. Hildegard shared are inclined to bring joy, and you have a glorious and nourishing treat!

3 Health Benefits of Apples

Apples aren’t only a delicious snack but, eaten as part of a healthy diet, can support health and well-being. Here are 3 health benefits of apples:

1. Antioxidant – Apples are one of the top fruits to protect your cells against free radicals that play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Eating an apple a day (including the peel!) is linked to a lower risk of several types of cancer, in current studies.
2. Protects your heart – Eating an apple or two a day has shown in clinical trials to lower cholesterol levels and make it less likely to develop high blood pressure.
3. Supports brain health – Eating fresh fruits and vegetables including apples contributes to promoting better cognitive function and preventing dementia.

There are loads of apple recipes that I enjoy, but besides just biting into a fresh apple picked right off the tree, I love this simple recipe for baking them. And the sweet and spicy aroma that lingers in the house for a while is glorious!

​Baked Apple Slices

Core and cut up a couple apples into slices (with the peel). Place them on parchment paper in a baking dish. Drizzle a little unsalted butter or coconut oil over the top and stir to coat well.

Sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves over the top and bake in a 400-degree oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Stir once or twice while baking. Add more spices, as desired.

Serve warm and enjoy!

St. Hildegard was known to honor the sacred connection that people had with nature. She felt that if this connection was out of balance, then there was a drying up of vitality and illness could arise. One could reconnect with this powerful divine life force once again – filled with vitality and moisture – through creating healthy balance through rest, herbal remedies, and proper nutrition.
So, as you bite into that sweet apple, know that you’re reconnecting to this powerful divine life force, filled with vitality and moisture!