Enter the clichéd old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Now obviously apples can’t cure every disease ever but there is a bit of truth to this old saying. Eating apples have many important vitamins and nutrients that help to strengthen the body and build up the immune system.
Antioxidants
Apples are rich in antioxidants, and we all know how important these are. One of these antioxidants is, Quercetin. We’ve written an article on Quercetin before and apples are a great source for this great antioxidant. It greatly improves cellular health and is a great tool for fighting inflammation.
Improves Cardiovascular Health
Various studies have shown that those who consumed apples on a daily basis, were at a lower risk of getting a stroke than those who didn’t. One reason for this could be the apples ability to lower the levels of bad cholesterol within the body. One study found that women who ate apples daily had lowered their bad (LDL) cholesterol by about 23 percent and the researchers also noticed a slight increase in the good (HDL) cholesterol.
Apples are also rich in soluble fiber which binds to the cholesterol in the intestines and reduces the buildup of plaque within the arteries.
Rich in Flavonols
These sweet, juicy fruits are also rich in flavonols. Flavonols help the body prevent the growth and development of cancer, especially against the cancer cells in the breast, colon and the liver. Most of these are found within the skin of the apple so make sure to eat it with its skin.
Prevent Type II Diabetes
As mentioned earlier, apples are rich in soluble fiber. This type of fiber helps to reduce the blood sugar swings that occur when having foods high in sugar. So when you feel your energy draining in the afternoons, have an apple or two for a quick, healthy snack.
Great Source of Minerals and Vitamins
Apples are full of essential minerals and vitamins, such as: Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Vitamin B (B1, B2, B3 and B5), Vitamin C and Vitamin K.
Make sure to always purchase organic as apples are one of the most highly sprayed (pesticides) foods. In fact, in some countries it was found to contain the most number of pesticides than any other fruit or vegetable.
Also, avoid eating the seeds as they contain cyanide. A few will not hurt but eating too many daily can be poisonous.