Health Benefits of Apples
Super Tasty and Super Healthy
The health benefits of apples are amazing. Most people already know about them and it’s easy to understand why. They have been a must-have item in any proper fruit bowl for longer than I can imagine.
Many of us eat or drink apples all the time, as they are a common sight in all sorts of foods, including fruit salads and desserts like apple crumble.
And even after that, there’s the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away…”.
But how good are apples really? I’ll tell you now, apples are great. Whether you eat them or drink them, just like the benefits of beet juice, the health benefits of apples make them superb food for your body.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish, forsake the mars bar for a fresh apple.
I’ve even caught myself smiling when I hear the typical apple CRUNCH, so maybe we could even say that the sound they make is good for you. There’s something oddly refreshing about it. Perhaps the reason for that is that it reminds me of how great I feel after eating one.
However, I’m getting a little off topic here… Let’s get back to the health benefits of apples. They’re wild (kind of) and amazing (fairly) and will certainly (hopefully) make you smile.
Juicing and the Health Benefits of Apples
- Energy boost. Due to the natural sugars contained in apple juice, expect to get an energy hit… wooh!
- Grow some hair. Apparently, apple promotes hair growth too. I think this is one of the more peculiar health benefits of apples.
- Heal rheumatism. Many patients have found that apples are beneficial in the healing process of rheumatism.
- Help asthma. Recent studies have shown that the fresher the apple juice kids drink, the less they suffer from breathing problems. Also, children with mothers who eat lots of apples have lower rates of asthma.
- Improve brain function. Scientific research is beginning to show that apple juice improves brain function.
- Improve eyesight. Apples can help with some eye problems, and tend to strengthen the eyes. The high Vitamin A and C content also helps to treat night blindness.
- Lose weight. A Brazilian study with women found that those who ate three apples a day while dieting lost more weight than those who did not eat fruit while dieting. (Every article I write seems to end up mentioning this. So what’s the take-home message? Eat/drink more fruit and vegetables!)
- Lower cholesterol. Ingredients in apples called phytonutrients act to delay the breakdown of “bad” cholesterol. (LDL). One of the health benefits of apples is that eating just two apples a day can lower your cholesterol by as much as 16 percent!
- Manage diabetes. The pectin in apples helps lower the body’s need for insulin which helps to minimize the negative effects of diabetes.
- Prevent Alzheimer’s. An ingredient in apples called quercetin is thought to prevent free radical brain damage which is generally responsible for Alzheimer’s.
- Protect bones. French scientists discovered a flavonoid called phloridzin which is found only in apples. It is thought to protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may increase bone density. Another ingredient in apples called Boron strengthens bones.
- Prevent breast, colon, liver and lung cancer. As time goes on more and more studies are confirming the power of fresh fruit and vegetables (and the antioxidants they contain) to prevent all types of cancer. This is true again with apples. Studies consistently show that the more apples someone eats, the less risk they are at from cancer.
- Prevent heart disease. Due to lowered cholesterol after regularly eating apples, the health benefits of apples are thought to prevent heart disease.
- Prevent kidney and liver disease. Apples succeed at this feat by successfully flushing out these organs.
- Resist the winter cold. And the antioxidants do it again, keeping you cold and flu free.
- Restore strength. Apples have long been given to people to restore their vigor and vitality. They encourage fast recovery from many things and promote strength.
- Slow aging. The plentiful antioxidants in fresh, organic apples slow aging; both of the skin and the brain. Try juicing for acne to get this benefit.
- Treat Anemia. Iron (apples have plenty of this) encourages increased hemoglobin levels therefore treating anemia.
I’m beginning to think that the health benefits of apples never end.
Vitamins
- Vitamin A – 98 IU
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 0.031 mg
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – 0.047 mg
- Niacin – 0.166 mg
- Folate – 5 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid – 0.111 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 0.075 mg
- Vitamin C – 8.4 mg
- Vitamin E – 0.33 mg
- Vitamin K – 4 mcg
*Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.
Minerals
- Potassium – 195 mg
- Calcium – 11 mg
- Phosphorus – 20 mg
- Magnesium – 9 mg
- Manganese – 0.064 mg
- Iron – 0.22 mg
- Sodium – 2 mg
- Copper – 0.049 mg
- Zinc – 0.07 mg
*Also contains a trace amount of other minerals.
Juicing Apples and What You Need to Know
- Forget about the store-bought stuff. Almost everything you’ll find in your local supermarket will be almost totally sugar, and will contribute to diabetes and weight gain.
- The cloudier the apple juice, the higher it tends to be in antioxidants.
- When choosing apples, pick firm ones with rich colors. You obviously want them when they are perfectly ripe, as this is when the most antioxidants are present.
- To get the full health benefits of apples, you need to eat them. This way, you get the nutritious fiber too. However, juicing apples is still great for your health. You just need to ensure you get enough healthy fiber in your diet.
- As with all fruit and vegetables, it’s best to go organic. Otherwise, what you buy tends to be covered in pesticides, toxic residues, wax and other unhealthy things. If you can’t make it organic, wash your apples thoroughly before juicing.
- When juicing apples, don’t peel them! A lot of nutritious substances live in the skin.
- Apples are high in sugar, and should be used with caution by diabetics and other people with sugar problems.
Need ideas? Try these apple juice recipes.
- Carrot Juice Recipe | Carrot, Apple and Ginger
- Apple Juice Recipe | The Skinny Apple
- Juicing Recipe | Soft Skin
Other Uses for Apple
- Apple cider vinegar. It’s made from fermenting apples and can prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- Salads and desserts. Enough said.
- Skin care. Make a paste from apple and honey or apple and milk. Then, apply it to the skin to make it shine and glow.
Apples really do go a long way
When I first started researching this article, I didn’t think I’d be able to find much. Apples are so common, that I took it for granted just how good they are.
Apples, like all other fruits and vegetables, are absolutely fantastic for our bodies and are the perfect food for being healthy. As you might have guessed after reading the health benefits of apples above, they promote energy, vitality and a lasting feel-good feeling.
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