Do Apples Keep the Doctor Away?

We’ve all heard the saying about doctors and apples. But, is it true? There are many health benefits to eating apples and we are going to find out what they are.

 

Apples contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are everywhere these days. They are the chemicals in fruits, vegetables, and chocolate that combats the effects of free radicals in the body.

 

Free radicals are the by-products of cellular metabolism. It is the free radical damage to our bodies that causes us to actually “look” our age. Free radicals are hard on the body and that doesn’t let up as we get older.

 

In fact, it is worse. Age compromises our immune system. Just like when we are young, when we are old, our bodies are not in peak fighting shape to ward off illnesses and diseases like asthma and various forms of cancer. This is where antioxidants are so important.

 

Apples contain antioxidant substances called flavonoids: quercetin, phloridzin, and vitamin C are a few. These substances subdue the free radicals and prevent them from doing damage to our organs and vessels. With these free radicals out of commission, we are less likely to develop certain forms of cancer, neurological disorders (like Alzheimer’s), and other telltale signs of old age.

 

Why are many people living to the century mark and looking good while doing it? They aren’t eating a leaf of lettuce and drinking a gallon of water a day that’s for sure. They are better taking care of their bodies through exercise and choosing foods carefully.

 

Consuming many antioxidant rich foods like apples means more fight against aging and illness. Despite the color on the outside, each apple contains antioxidant properties that make it pack a punch each time you eat one. No one specifically knows how many antioxidants we should consume on a daily basis to achieve optimal health but getting as many into you as possible is best.

 

And, with apples on our side, consuming them is a very tasty proposition indeed. Apples have many tastes: tart, tangy, sweet, and not so sweet. Choose the apple that fits your taste and get healthy while enjoying yourself.

 

The pectin found in apples helps to reduce our cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol chases after us all our lives. The foods we love to eat are always loaded with it. So, switch out some of those French fries for at least one apple a day and see the difference it will make to your body.  

Nutritional Makeup of the Apple

We know that the food pyramid tells us to get a certain number of servings of fruits and vegetables a day. But, all fruits are not created equal. They may all have a benefit for our health but not necessarily the same benefits. What’s inside of these foods determines how they will impact our health.

 

Let’s take the apple for instance. Apples make a good overall showing in the healthy fruit category. They are small enough to carry along with you wherever you go and don’t bruise as easily as other fruits with softer flesh. Apples come in several varieties that have been bred for certain features.

 

They sound like champion racehorses, but really they are the champions of the fruit world. If you look a bit closer, you’ll see that that crisp, white flesh is hiding a fat attacker—fiber. Insoluble fiber is not absorbed by the body but removed. As it passes through our digestive system, it binds to fat molecules and takes them out with it.

 

Apples also contain plenty of vitamin C. it plays an important role in our body. Vitamin C is needed for essential brain functions and to maintain the structure of blood vessels and bones in the body. The majority of our daily dose can come from eating an apple or two. With the incidents of osteoporosis in older women, consuming a healthy amount of vitamin C can prevent this condition from happening to you.

 

Apples also contain antioxidants. Vitamin C is an antioxidant but they also contain some that are unique to apples. One is phloridzin. Researchers have found that this antioxidant called a flavonoid helps to reduce bone loss in women going through menopause.

 

Pectin found in apples works to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood. Bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) increases the chance of plaque formations in the vessels. This can lead to heart attacks or strokes. In combination with antioxidants, the amount of LDL is reduced and the vessels maintain their elasticity and prevent the clumping of platelets.

 

Quercetin is another antioxidant compound found in apples. Researchers believe that it functions to prevent certain diseases and cancers along with limiting the damage caused by free radicals in the body. Free radicals cause all sorts of problems as we age and antioxidants work to stop that damage and restore our bodies to a healthy state.

 

Apples contain no cholesterol, no fat, and very little sodium. They are low in calories and high in fiber. When choosing a snack or a healthy addition to recipes, look no further than the apple orchard.