Have you ever gone apple picking? It's a blast. Having a basket at your side like Little Read Ridinghood and an apple picker and latter to ward off the wolf. Okay maybe not, but it's fun to get crunchy fresh, ripe, and sweeeet apples. My favorites are Pink Lady or Honey Crisp but any variety is going to give you a bunch of vitamins. So, when you bite them what's it doing for your body? (And recipes after the jump...)
Health Benefits
Fiber--Apples are a super source for fiber which helps both digestive regularity and relief of constipation. AmericanHear.org states that fiber also helps in the fight against many potentially fatal diseases, including different forms of cancer and heart disease. Bone Protection-- A flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
Alzheimer's Prevention-- A study found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.
Lower Cholesterol-- The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent!!
Lung Cancer Prevention-- Researchers believe the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples helps cut your risk of lung cancer (eat an apple a day and it will cut it by 50%).
Breast Cancer Prevention-- A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
Colon Cancer Prevention-- Apple skins have pectin which reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.
Liver Cancer Prevention-- Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.
Diabetes Management-- The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.
Apple Factoids
Now off the serious stuff and read up on some fun apple factoids. Bet you didn't know this...
Apples float because 25% of their volume is air. --> go bobbing for apples! Watch the saliva!
One medium apple contains about 80 calories.
Quercetin is found only in the apple skin. The skin also contains more antioxidants and fiber than the flesh.
China produces more apples than any other country.
Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California are the top 5 apple-producing states in the U.S. In all, 36 states produce apples commercially.
Half the United States apple crop is turned into apple products like applesauce and apple juice.
Apple trees don't bear their first fruit until they are four or five years old.
Archaeologists have evidence of people eating apples as far back as 6500 B.C.
Recipes
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