THE BENEFITS OF AN APPLE
You’ve most likely heard the saying before… “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” Believe it or not, but there is some truth to the ol’ myth! Research suggests that eating an apple a day can have many positive effects on your body and health status. With apple-picking season right around the corner, what better reason is there to go and pick apples at your favorite orchard or right here at Viking Village and enjoy the great taste and nutrients they have to offer.
There are countless health benefits when enjoying an apple. For example, apples are a fat-free food and make a great snack option that can be eaten almost anywhere. No utensils are needed when eating an apple which makes it the perfect go-to snack that packs a punch and keeps you feeling full because of its fiber content. A medium-sized apple provides as much dietary fiber as a bowl of bran cereal. Apples are also loaded with pectin which is a soluble fiber that aids digestion and may help reduce cancer and heart disease. The complex carbohydrates in apples also gives your body a longer, more even energy boost compared to sugary foods such as a pack of fruit snacks.
Back in 2011, a study conducted by the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at the Florida State University concluded that eating an apple or two a day may reduce heart disease risk factors. How, might you ask…The pectin previously described within the apple actually blocks cholesterol absorption in the gut which encourages the body to use the fiber rather than store it. Apple peels are also packed with polyphenols, antioxidants that prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Other studies have shown that in addition to cardiovascular benefits, there’s evidence that apples help regulate blood sugar and control appetite, protect against cancer, and safeguard the lungs.
WHICH IS BEST?
Now on to the question of which are best: dried, fresh, or baked apples? Nutritionists say the best apples are those you like to eat. There are health benefits to all the different ways to prepare an apple but the important thing to remember is an apple a day in any variety is better than no apple at all. At around 80 calories for a medium (tennis-ball-sized) apple, it’s hard to go wrong with any variety. Apples contain significant amounts of vitamins A and C and a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that can protect your cells from the effects of free radicals which are harmful molecules produced when your body breaks down certain foods.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a quote that I have no problem abiding by. The amount of vitamins and minerals in the small, round mass provide my body with so many health benefits, plus the great taste is an added bonus. With the fall season soon approaching, apples will be in season and of abundance. Take that time to enjoy the great taste of an apple and all the benefits it has to offer!
Dishin’ Out Healthy – Health Educator: Nichelle
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
