Apples (especially the skin) and blueberries are fantastic sources of quercetin, a natural antioxidant with potential benefits for cancer prevention. Quercetin can help create a healthier body environment by reducing inflammation. Studies also suggest that higher intake of quercetin-rich foods may lower the risk of certain cancers. For more information on the research behind quercetin, check out our detailed review.
Try this delicious apple, pear, and blueberry crisp recipe from CancerChoices’ Senior Clinical Consultant, health-supportive chef, and culinary translator, Laura Pole, for a tasty way to enjoy apples this season.
Apple-Pear-Blueberry Crisp
Ingredients
Filling
3/4 pound Rome or McIntosh apples, sliced
3/4 pound D’Anjou pears
8 ounces fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon lemon Juice
Pinch of sea salt
¼ tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of cardamom
½ cup apple juice or apple cider mixed with 1 tablespoon arrowroot
Crisp
2 cups rolled oats
½ cup whole wheat or spelt flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour such as Arrowhead Mills, Bob’s Red Mill or Trader Joe’s—I like TJ’s the best)
¼ cup cold-pressed no-taste oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of cinnamon
Directions
- Rinse apples and pears (peeling is optional). Quarter them, remove seeds and slice thinly.
- Place apples, pears and blueberries in a baking dish. Sprinkle with lemon juice, sea salt, cinnamon, and cardamom and pour juice over fruit. Toss to mix.
- Mix crisp ingredients and crumble over fruit evenly.
- Press down gently; bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes, until the crust is crunchy and golden and apples are soft.
Copyright © by Laura Pole. All rights reserved.
Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.
For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.
Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.
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