There is a famous saying that says ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Eating apples as often as you can have numerous health benefits.
Apples are one the most widely cultivated fruits in the world. There are about 7,500 varieties that can be enjoyed raw, in baked desserts and dishes, as applesauce or juice.
Apples contain almost no sodium, cholesterol or fat. Plus, they are packed with many important nutrients such as vitamin C which is a powerful natural antioxidant, B-complex vitamins especially riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B-6, phytonutrients, fiber, phosphorus, potassium and calcuim making apple one of the top-ranking superfood.
Here are the health benefits of eating apple:
1. Apples prevents the risk of heart disease
Pectin, a soluble fiber present in apples helps in absorbing cholesterol and thus reduces the chances of your arteries getting blocked. The fruit is also charged with antioxidants which serves the same purpose of fighting bad cholesterol.
2. Apples prevents risk of stroke
According to a study conducted by Dutch researchers, people who consumed 171 grams of apple a day were 52% less likely to suffer from a stroke than those who consumed 78 grams or lesser.
3. Apples whitens your teeth
Nobody likes stained teeth, and besides maintaining proper oral hygiene you could add apples to your diet for whiter teeth. Apple is crunchy to eat and has abrasive qualities which fights stains on your teeth.
4. Apples give you glowing skin
One of the lesser known benefits of eating an apple is that it’s great for the skin. It is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants which prevent signs of aging, wrinkles and keeps your skin glowing!
5. Apples help you loss weight
Eating an apple before having a meal, can be a great way to eat less. Containing just 50-80 calories, an apple does not have any fat or sodium. A Brazilian study even found that women who ate apples before their meals, lost 33% more weight than women who didn’t eat the fruit!
6. Apples fight cancer
Flavonoids, a chemical present in apples can help destroy cancer cells. However, you must make sure that you do not peel the apple, since most of the flavonoids are present in its skin.
7. Apples help beat diarrhea and constipation
Even though diarrhea and constipation are two very different stomach ailments, apples can help counter both. The fiber present in apples can pull water out of your colon in case of constipation, and absorb excess water in case of diarrhea.
8. Apples boost your immune system
Being rich in so many nutrients, apples can boost your immune system and keep you free from infections. In particular, a flavonoid called quercetin has been shown to significantly improve one’s immune system.
9. Apples help you exercise better
A lot of people are confused as to what they should eat before exercising. Eating an apple can be a great option. It has been shown that apples boost endurance by making more oxygen available to the lungs.
10. Apples can help improve memory
Eating an apple everyday can prevent the decline of a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine thus improving your memory. A study also found that this property of an apple, can slow the mental decline found in people with Alzheimer’s.
Apples can be eaten raw or baked or cooked... comment your favorite apple dish below.
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