I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but do you believe it? I do. Apples are an incredibly easy, inexpensive, and delicious way to add fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your diet.
Apples have been around forever, since the days of Adam and Eve…
Apples are fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, low in sodium, and full of fiber (with the peel on), pectin, vitamins, flavonoids, minerals and antioxidants. One apple contains approximately five grams of fiber and just eighty calories.
Doctors have suspected for years that constipation, caused by insufficient fiber in the diet, is at the root of many illnesses. Conditions such as appendicitis, varicose veins, diverticulitis, hernias and hemorrhoids are all thought to be caused by strained bowel movements. Most people know that fiber can alleviate these strained bowel movements. An apple a day can go a long way to keeping your body regular and free from constipation. My children can attest to the fact that anytime they complained of a stomach ache, I would always ask them when the last time they had a good poop, then prepare them a large bowl of sliced apples (with the peel still on) sprinkled with cinnamon. See a previous post all about what your poop will tell you.
Pectin is a carbohydrate found in apples that helps our intestines when diarrhea is a problem. This is because pectin causes food to congeal, just as it does when you use it to make jam or jelly. Most mothers are familiar with the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, unsweetened applesauce and toast when their children have been ill with diarrhea. Most of these ingredients are bland and easy on the stomach. The applesauce (apples without the fiber of the peel) is primarily included in this diet because of the pectin.
Apples are full of magnesium and potassium which help control your blood pressure. Quercetin is a flavonoid found in apples that protects your artery walls as well as your lungs. Boron, a trace mineral that is absorbed from the soil, is also found in apples and has been shown to be beneficial for your joints. Antioxidants are helpful to prevent disease and even to stop the growth of cancer cells once they are present in your system.
Now that you know just how good apples are for you, be sure to eat an apple a day to stay healthy or get healthier, starting today!
I’m an “apple-holic” too :o) Thanks for a great post about my favorite “treat” :o)
I’m going to go eat me two of them apples right now… 😉
Very True. Apples are good for teeth 🙂
Love green Granny smith’s!! Great, informative post!! We have a busy weekend that starts in a few hours and I am off to the store! Apples are NOW on this list, so thanks for the reminder!!
It’s true that apples always do the trick if I’m a little sluggish! I have an apple several times a week, but I wonder why I don’t every day! I need to fix that. 🙂