Find out why 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'.
Apples are:
- Fat free
- Saturated fat free
- Sodium free
- Cholesterol free
- An excellent source of fibre.
The advantages of eating an apple every day:
1. Excellent diet solution: If you are concerned about your weight you might be interested to know that the fibre in apples will help you to fill up so you won't feel like filling up something else. This will help you to lose weight as well as sustain weight loss. Apples also have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. In fact, if you eat two apples a day you can reduce your cholesterol level by up to 10%.
* One apple provides as much dietary fibre as a bowl of bran cereal. That's equal to one fifth of the recommended daily intake fibre.
2. A natural mouth freshener: Apples are crunchy and while you eat them they can clean your teeth and strengthen your gums naturally.
3. Energy for the day: The complex carbohydrates in apples give your body a longer, more even energy boost compared to high - sugar snacks. Snacking on apples can help keep you going throughout the day.
4. Strengthen your bones: Apples provide boron, an essential trace element that helps harden bones. Strong bones help prevent osteoporosis.
5. Easy on your digestion: Apples contain pectin - a soluble fibre that encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. An apple's high fibre content adds bulk that aids the digestive process.
6. Lower the incidence of lung cancer: An apple a day strengthens lung function. Steamed apples sweeten with honey are beneficial for a dry cough and may help to remove mucous from the lung.
7. Serve apples to a feverish patient: Apples have high water content so they are good for cooling, moistening and aid in reducing fever.
8. Lower the risk to of heart disease and prevent the cell changes that lead to cancer: Apples are loaded with pectin, a soluble fibre that may help reduce cancer and heart disease. The antioxidant phytonutrients found in apples help fight the damaging effects of LDL (bad cholesterol).
9. Amazing for controlling blood sugar: Because of apples' high fibre contents, the fruit's natural sugars are slowly released into the blood stream, helping maintain steady blood sugar levels.
10. Protection against asthma: A Dutch investigation revealed the impact of maternal diet on the asthma risk of children and found mothers who eat apples during pregnancy may protect their children from developing asthma in later life.
Click here to download a brochure detailing the nutritional benefits of eating apples
Luv'ya tips:
Eat your apple with the skin on - almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases your insoluble fibre intake which is great roughage to add to your diet. Plus the amount of tannin in an apple skin may help to prevent periodontal or gum disease.
References:
1. http://www.usaapple.org/consumers/dailyapple/nutrition.cfm
2. http://www.vegeparadise.com/highestperch39.html
3. http://www.mucle-and-fitness.co.uk/health/ diet/apple_nutrition_facts.html
4. http://www.virginaapples.org/facts/5reasons.html
5. http://www.allaboutapples.com/health/terms.htm
6. http://health.learninginfo.org/apple.htm
7. http://urbanext.illinois.edu/apples/nutrition.cfm
8. http://www.nyapplecountry.com/nutritionchart.htm
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