6 good reasons why you should eat apples

There's no easier way to add a dose of nutrition to your day than by crunching on a
tasty apple. Maybe you first experienced its delightful flavor as a baby, when
applesauce introduced you to real food. And now, whether it's a Granny Smith, a McIntosh, or a Red Delicious, apples are as old friends. Grown throughout the world, apples are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They're fatfree, cholesterol-free, and low in sodium. In short, eating apples is a smart part of a healthy lifestyle.

So let me tell you about 6 ways apples keep you healthy:

# 1: Regulates your day

You don't have to worry about staying regular anymore if you eat apples. Whether your problem is visiting the bathroom too often or not often enough, apples can help.
A British researcher, Dr. D.P Burkitt, believes one of the easiest ways to prevent all sorts of illnesses, is to avoid constipation. He calls the diseases caused by chronic constipation "pressure diseases." Appendicitis, diverticular diseases, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernias, and even varicose veins can all be caused by straining to pass small, hard stools.
 
Just one apple with its skin contains 4 to 5 grams of fiber - the most important nutrient in keeping your bowels working like a well-oiled machine. Keeping yourself regular without relying on harmful laxatives could be as easy as replacing that afternoon snack of potato chips or cookies with a crisp, delicious apple. And just think of the calories you'll save. The average apple has about 80 calories while a serving of chips weighs in at 150 calories and you'll get about 200 from just a few cookies.
 
But that's not all apples can do. They're also good for diarrhea, thanks to aningredient called pectin. This carbohydrate has a congealing effect in your intestines that helps firm things up and return you to normal. Applesauce is actually the best apple product for diarrhea, since it's made without the high-fiber skin. But watch out for extra sugar. Some brands of applesauce dump a lot of sweeteners into an otherwise healthy food, and too much refined sugar could make your diarrhea worse.

# 2: Keep your body young

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By now you probably know that antioxidants can protect you from many of the diseases that
seem to be a part of aging. In fact, so many people are taking supplements for antioxidant protection that it's become a multibillion-dollar industry. But I believe - and in fact the
evidence is mounting to support that - that whole foods can do more for you than pills.
 
When scientists compared a 1,500-milligram vitamin C supplement to one small apple, the results were astounding - the antioxidant values were equal. That means a fresh apple has more than 15 times the antioxidant power of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C. And that's just for starters. The researchers also found that an ordinary apple was able to stop the growth of colon and liver cancer cells in test tubes. Unpeeled apples were especially effective.

The question you need to ask yourself is this: Why waste money on flavorless supplements when you can get better antioxidant firepower from a sweet, crunchy fruit?

Of course, if you have a deficiency of any sort, supplements may be necessary as a temporary solution to the problem, but when the values reach the level where they are back to normal, I believe the best way to keep them that way, is to get the nutrients you need through your food and not through supplements.

But let's move on to the next reason why you should eat apples:

# 3: Cuts your risk of heart disease

Sometimes it's hard to remember which food is good for which part of your body. The next time you pick up an apple, take a good look at it. It's shaped a bit like a heart - and that should help you remember that apples are good for your heart.
 
It's the magnesium and potassium in apples that help regulate your blood pressure and keep your heart beating steadily, and it's the flavonoid quercetin, a naturally occurring antioxidant, that protects your artery walls from damage and keeps your blood flowing smoothly.
 
In fact: adding flavonoid-rich foods like apples to your diet has been scientifically confirmed to lower your risk of heart disease. There's proof of this in a study of Japanese women who ate foods high in quercetin. They were less likely to get coronary heart disease than other women and they had lower levels of total and LDL, or bad cholesterol.
 

# 4: Strikes at the heart of strokes

Apples are even a smart choice for helping avoid strokes. Scientists aren't sure which ingredient in this multi-talented fruit to credit, but the connection is clear: People who regularly eat apples are less likely to have strokes than people who don't.
 
# 5: Protects your joints

Picture by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels.

In areas of the world where fruits and vegetables make up a large part of the diet, very few people get arthritis. Compare this to modernized countries where fruits and vegetables have been replaced with fast, processed food and you'll find up to 70 percent of the population suffers from some form of arthritis. Just a coincidence? Not according to nutrition experts. They link this trend in part to boron, a trace mineral many plants, including apples, absorb from the soil.
 
If you eat like most people, you'll get about 1 to 2 milligrams (mg) of boron a day, mostly from non-citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, and nuts. Experts believe, however, you need anywhere from 3 to 10 mg a day to affect your risk of arthritis. To boost your boron intake to this level, you'd have to eat more than nine apples a day. This is probably an unreasonable amount for most people, but don't despair. Pair an apple with other boron-rich foods like a few tablespoons of peanut butter and a
large handful of raisins, and you'll not only have a delicious afternoon snack, but you'll make your joint-saving quota of boron at the same time.
 

# 6: Helps you breathe deeply

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Your lungs are assaulted every day by cigarette smoke, air pollution, pollen, and other air-borne nasties. On top of that perhaps you suffer from asthma, emphysema, or similar lung condition.
If all you want to do is take a deep breath, then grab an apple.
A five-year study of more than 2,500 men from Wales found that those who ate five or
more apples per week were able to fill their lungs with more air than men who didn't eat apples. Experts believe you might be getting some special protection from the antioxidant quercetin. Unfortunately, eating apples can't reverse a lung condition you already have, but you just might add a new line of defense against further damage.

So - to wind this up: How do you make the most out of your apples?

Pantry pointers

Buy apples that are unbruised, firm, and have good color. Take them out of their plastic bag
and store them in your refrigerator - loose in the produce bin or in a paper bag is best. And since they will absorb odors, keep them away from strongsmelling foods like garlic and onions.

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DISCLAIMER:
This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

À bientôt!