Though the quote "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" isn't entirely true, eating apples does have many long-term health benefits. The apple is a highly nutritious fruit. A medium-sized apple only contains somewhere around 85-95 calories. Being a low-calorie food, eating apples is a great way to keep full while also staying energized. A medium apple contains about 25g carbs, 4.5g fiber, about 9% of the daily Vitamin C requirement, about 5% of the daily copper requirement, about 4% of the daily Potassium requirement, about 3% of the daily Vitamin K requirement. Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant to neutralize free-radicals in the body and protect against diseases.
Research also shows that eating apples improves heart health. A study with 20,000 adults found that eating apples and other fresh fruits and vegetables were linked to a lower risk of stroke. This may be attributed to flavonoids found in apples, which reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Also, apples promote weight loss. Due to its high fiber density, eating apples supports feelings of fullness, while decreasing calorie intake. Apples have also been shown to improve bone density by increasing bone mineral density. Apples promote brain function by reducing oxidative stress, preventing mental decline and slow signs of aging. Apples also protect against asthma and the risk of diabetes.
While there is no direct scientific evidence linking eating apples with a decrease in the number of visits to the doctor's, eating apples is an excellent source of fiber and other nutrients. We should all try to increase our intake of organic fruits such as the apple in our diets.
