12 Astonishing Health Benefits of Apples

An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

Raise your hands if you have heard the general saying, “One apple a day keeps the doctor away.” As much as this saying sounds like a cliché, it simply shows that apples have numerous health benefits that can improve life! With only 95 calories per medium apple, apples have tons of nutrients. Fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants to help you keep the doctors away! In today’s post, let’s dive deeper and explore the health benefits of apples. 

Even if you love apples as much as I do, you might not be fully aware of how good these fruits are for you. But if you want to know how much they can benefit your health, read on!

Apples make a great snack, and here I am dipping it in romesco sauce. YUM! Peanut butter and almond butter all make great dips too!

The Origins of Apples 

What’s funny about apples is that they are always noted in apple pie, something that is actually not American! They’re not even native to North America, but rather, they came from Kazakhstan. 

Around 1500 BC, apple seeds had made their way throughout Europe. They were cultivated by the Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans. As they made their way around, many varieties of this fruit began thriving in England, where as it turns out, apple pie originated.

Types of Apples

Throughout the world, there are over 7,500 different varieties of apples. In the U.S., there are about 100 different types of apples that are grown commercially. It would be a chore to list all of them here, but the most common types you’ll find in America are Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Empire, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, and Red Delicious. 

12 Astonishing Health Benefits of Apples

While we all know the apple a day saying, science really does back that catchy little phrase we were all taught as kids. Here are 12 health benefits you get from eating apples!

1. Lots of Antioxidants

It’s in the skin! Apples have potent antioxidants like vitamin C, quercetin, and catechin. These protect your cells from oxidative stress which can protect you from diseases.

2. Apples Have Loads of Fiber

Soluble and insoluble fiber are an important part of a healthy diet. If you eat an apple a day, you’ll be sure to get that fiber your body needs for digestive health and lower cholesterol levels too.

3. Health Benefits of Apples – Gut Health

That pectin is at it again, helping produce short chain fatty acids to help your gastrointestinal health along. Apples have everything you need to keep your gut in great health. 

4. Apples Contain Healthy Nutrients

Apples contain a lengthy roster of nutrients that include vitamins C and E, copper, magnesium, and potassium. And that’s just the short list! If you eat an apple each day, you’ll be giving your body essential vitamins and minerals it needs to thrive with good health.

5. Supports a Healthy Heart

Since apples have all those antioxidants which can reduce inflammatory markers, they may support a healthier heart. They have polyphenols that are great for blood pressure and help improve cholesterol levels.

6. Health Benefits of Apples for Healthy Weight

Apples are sweet and taste like a treat but have low calories. With all that fiber, it fills you up, making it less likely for you to overeat. And since it has prebiotics, it helps balance your blood sugar which is good for reducing cravings.

7. Prebiotic Powers

Apples have something called pectin which acts as a prebiotic. This is ideal for fueling the beneficial bacteria in your gut, keeping things healthy in there.

8. May Protect Against Asthma

If you have asthma, apples may provide some more protection. More studies are needed but they seem to help regulate your immune responses in the body, especially when it comes to the symptoms of asthma.

9. Supports Bone Health

Minerals like potassium and magnesium from apples can help neutralize dietary acids which can impact bone loss. So if you’re not a fan of milk, make sure you eat more apples. 

10. Protects Brain Health

Healthy compounds in apples may help strengthen the relationship between the brain and the gut, improving cognitive performance. The research is still a little new, but apples can’t hurt!

11. Lower Diabetes Risk

If you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, start adding apples to your diet. The polyphenols they contain help prevent tissue damage to cells in your pancreas where your body produces insulin. 

12. Lower Cancer Risk

Apples have flavonoids and polyphenols which can lower your cancer risk. Research is ongoing, but the preliminary finds are fascinating!

How to Cut an Apple

Perhaps you just wash your apple and bite right in! There’s nothing wrong with that! And granted you will still get the health benefits! Lol. But if you want to ensure everyone in the family eats more apples, slice it up first. You can cut it by using a sharp knife to cut to the side of the stem, avoiding the core.

Even better, if you have an apple corer, this is the easiest way to get the core and seeds out of your way. Once the core is removed, you can slice up the apple into uniform pieces. 

How to Eat an Apple

You can of course just chomp right into a whole apple and enjoy. But if you’re sharing it, slices are best. You can serve them with a little natural peanut butter, or even a drizzle of raw organic honey. I particularly enjoy slices apples and romesco sauce!

Some Must-Try Recipes with Apples:

Pomegranate Arugula Salad with Apples and Pecans

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples

Celery Juice with Apples!

Favorite Healthy Apple Muffins!

FAQs on Health Benefits of Apples

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