An Apple a Day

So...it is apple season. The apples are so good right now. They are crisp and sweet and a great snack. I am really enjoying the apples. My new favorite snack is an apple with a little bit of peanut butter or a little salt. They are actually really filling. Especially on my days that I work out..when I get home I really don't want a big heavy meal. The last couple of weeks I have just had an apple with some PB for dinner on Thursday nights.

We have all heard an "apple a day keeps the doctor away"...but where did that come from? I decided to look into the nutritional benefits of apples and this is what I found.

Apples have properties that no other fruits have and its benefits have been proven overtime. You will be able to get the benefits of these properties individually with other fruits, but an apple combines everything and makes it simpler. It has been shown over and over that if it’s not simple, easy and fast, people won’t take care of their health.

1-Apple contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps greatly your immune system. A lot of people who lack Vitamin C in their diet have poor healing, bruise easily and have bleeding gums.

2-Prevent Heart Diseases. The reason it can prevent both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease is because apples are rich in flavonoid. Flavonoids are also known for their antioxidant effects.

3-Low in calories. A regular size apple has between 70-100 calories. Eating an apple when craving for candy or chocolate can make the desire disappear since apple in itself contains sugar, but gives you only ¼ of the calories.

4-Prevent Cancers. Notice the plural. We all know that cancer comes in several forms and in different places. Apples target multiple cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer in women.

5-Apples contain phenols, which have a double effect on cholesterol. It reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. They prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a very dangerous form of bad cholesterol which can be deadly.

6-Prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection that seriously damages the structure of your teeth, which is caused primarily because of bacteria. The juice of the apples has properties that can kill up to 80% of bacteria. So there you have it, an apple a day also keeps the dentist away!

7-Protects your brain from brain disease. This is something many people don’t know, and when you consider that your brain makes the person you are, it gives a whole new perspective. Apple has substances called phytonutrients, and these phytonutrients prevents neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsonism.

8-Healthier Lungs. A research at the University of Nottingham Research shows that people who eat 5 apples or more per week has lower respiratory problems, including asthma.

So, enjoy the yummy apples this season. There are so many different varieties. My favorites are Gala, Pink Lady and Braeburn apples. Not only are they filling and delicious but they can also promote good health. On average Americans only eat an apple a week but really an apple a day is needed to get the health benefits. Hudson loves apples. We bought a little slicer that cores and cuts the apple in wedges. It was about $5 and makes the apple so easy to eat and is super fast!

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