The Apple is very delicious, full of rich nutrients, widely consumed all over the world, and available year round. The saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is not far from the truth. Regular consumption of the fruit can provide many vital nutrients and can help prevent a lot of health problems. There are many health benefits of this highly antioxidant fruit.
It has three important nutrients – antioxidants, fibers, and simple sugars.
The apple is a very rich source of antioxidants. They contain flavonoids and polyphenols, both of which are powerful antioxidants. It’s skin contains quercetin, which is a very powerful flavonoid. According to researchers, flavonoids help prevent cardiac disease in humans. When consumed regularly, flavonoids can lower the risk of cardiac disease by 20%. A 100g of this fruit is equivalent to 1500mg of vitamin C in terms of antioxidant content.
The antioxidants present in the fruit fight the free radicals in the body that tend to damage DNA. They also reduce the risk of cancer significantly.
The fruit is one of the richest sources of both soluble and insoluble fibers. A medium unpeeled one has around 3 grams of fiber. The fiber content in the fruit can bring down cholesterol levels significantly and reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke.
The insoluble fiber present in the fruit helps remove the LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol, from the body. The soluble fiber reduces the amount of LDL cholesterol produced in liver. By eating two of these fruits a day, you can bring down your cholesterol levels by 16%.
The soluble fiber in apples also helps remove the toxins and heavy metals like lead and mercury from the system.
The rich fiber content in the fruit ensures regular bowel movement. Eating one or two of these fruits a day regularly can help you stay away from constipation. The soluble fiber present in apple, pectin, also has the ability the firm up excessively loose stool and is thus used as a natural medication for diarrhea.
The simple sugar in the fruit – fructose – is the one that breaks down slowly and helps keep your blood sugar levels stable.
Regular consumption of the apples can also help to prevent kidney stones. The antioxidants in apples are also known to protect the skin from various skin diseases.
