Q. I love apples and eat one most days of the week. Is the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” really true?
A. ‘Tis the season for delicious apples. Take advantage of all the wonderful flavors and new varieties.
According to research studies, apples may protect against oxidative damage that contributes to age-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and may help to maintain brain performance — indicating that eating apples and drinking apple cider and apple juice may impact our brain’s health and mental acuity throughout life.
Apples provide your body with complex carbohydrates. Apples give your body a longer, more even energy boost compared to high sugar snacks. They fill you up and keep you going much longer, which makes them a great add to you day!
According to a new study of the health benefits of fiber consumption, apples have 5-7 grams of fiber per serving and may cut your risk of heart disease.
The study found that for every 10 grams of fiber consumed per day, the risk of developing heart disease decreased 14%, and the risk of dying from heart disease decreased 27%. Fiber from fruits, such as apples, appeared to be slightly more protective than cereal fiber.
Apples also offer cancer protection. Cornell University has discovered that substances called phytochemicals, found primarily in the skin of apples, provide huge antioxidant and anti-cancer benefits. The Cornell researchers found that eating fresh apples with skins provided more antioxidant and anti-cancer activity than a vitamin pill.
Wash your fruit and be sure to eat the peel. The red, green or yellow pigments in the peel of an apple contain health-protective flavonoids (antioxidant compounds) that may reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as breast, prostate and lung.
Snacking on apples contributes good-for-you nutrients to your diet as opposed to typical snack foods with lower nutrient values. Keep it simple by snacking on a plain apple, or get creative by making an apple snackwich.
To make, wash and core an apple. Slice side-to-side into ¼ inch thick planks. Spread one slice with peanut butter then top with granola. Sandwich two slices to make a snackwich.