‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’

Some chemicals in apples are known to be anti-allergenic. Some are anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. Research suggests that eating fresh apples provides an anti-oxidant activity greater than can be expected through its vitamin C content.

15 health benefits of eating apples

Sometimes, simple answers are the best. Improved health could be as easy as eating an apple the next time you need a snack.

What makes apples so great and why are apple calories so fantastic?

1. White, healthy teeth
Biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva and therefore helps reduce tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria in the mouth.

2. Help avoid Alzheimer’s
Studies show that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s at bay and fight the effects of aging on the brain.

3. Protect against Parkinson’s disease
Research shows that people who eat fruit and other high fibre foods gain an amount of protection against Parkinson’s which is a disease due to breakdown of the brain’s nerve cells. This may be linked to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants in apples.

4. Curb all types of cancers
It is generally agreed that the consumption of flavonol rich apples may help reduce risks of developing pancreatic cancer. There are apparently several properties in apple peel that have potent anti-growth properties against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast.

5. Decrease your risk of diabetes
Women who eat at least an apple a day are around 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are full of soluble fibre which is a key to preventing blood sugar swings.

6. Reduce cholesterol
The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fat in the intestine, resulting in lower cholesterol levels.

7. Get a healthier heart
High soluble fibre diets are linked with a slower buildup of cholesterol in arteries. In addition compounds found in apple skins help prevent the cholesterol in your system from solidifying on artery walls. If plaque builds inside arteries it reduces blood flow to the heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

8. Help prevent gallstones
Gallstones are due to having too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid form so it solidifies into solids known as gall stones. These are particularly common in the obese. To help prevent gallstones, a diet high in fibre is a key factor.

9. Beat diarrhea and constipation
Whether you are running to the bathroom constantly or have no need for frequent trips, fibre in apples can help. Fibre either flows water out of your colon to keep things moving or absorbs excess water from your stools to slow your bowels down.

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