An Apple a Day is Definitely The Way!

This little red fruit is packed with a number of medical benefits. Read on to learn the benefits of the apple. We have all heard the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Yet, how many of us really know the benefits of eating apples. Apples have played an important role in history. In the Bible, the forbidden fruit of knowledge in the Garden of Eden was considered to be an apple. In Greek Mythology, apples are associated with the god Apollo. The origin of the apple can be traced back 4,000 years to the Middle East. Apples have played a pivotal role in scientific discovery as well. It was the falling of an apple that led Isaac Newton to discover the principle of gravity. In this articleMedical Benefits of ApplesStoring Apples Medical Benefits of Apples This little red, yellow, or green fruit is a member of the rose family and is a marvel in its mere composition. This is a fruit that is low in calories, fat, and sodium. At the same time, it is a source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. This fruit has high water content. This quality of the fruit ensures that the apple is low in calories. These characteristics of an apple make it the ideal fruit when a person is on a diet. The low calories mean that a persons intake of apples can be high. The fibre ensures that your stomach feels full. In fact, one apple will take care of one fifth of the necessary daily fibre intake. The constituents of dietary fibre are cellulose, pectin, and lignin. Pectin helps in digestion. The sodium present in the apple flushes excess water from the body. The vitamin C that is present helps in improving overall health. Research conducted by the University of Aberdeen states that the children of mothers who eat apples are less likely to develop asthma. Apples are thus considered to be linked to better respiratory health. Apples are also a source of boron. Boron helps in the development of hard bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis in the process. Even the skin of the apple is considered to be healthy. Apple skin has quercertin, which is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help in reducing cell damage that is caused by naturally produced substances called free radicals, within the body. The carbohydrates in an apple ensure that it is a good energy snack. Ten percent of an apples constituents are carbohydrates. The energy provided will last longer than a chocolate energy bar. This makes an apple an ideal snack throughout the day. This juicy fruit also quenches your thirst and acts as a natural mouth freshener. Apples are excellent fruits for lowering the level of blood cholesterol. This is because of the phytonutrients that are present in apples. Phytonutrients are organic components such as flavonoids, lignans, and sulphides that are found in plants and fruits and are known to promote health. Phytonutrients are also considered to be responsible for the reduction of the number of lung cancer cases, as, in certain cases, they have been found to destroy cancer cells. Apples have some external applications as well. Fresh pulp scraped from an apple can be used as a poultice, to soothe inflammation and pain. Apple paste gives a cooling effect when applied onto the body. The juice of apples contains tannin, which helps in preventing urinary tract infections. Storing Apples Apples need to be handled with care to prevent bruising. Apples should be stored in plastic bags in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. This temperature-controlled environment ensures that apples stay crispier and juicier for a longer period. Apples have the ability to absorb odours and should therefore be stored away from foods that give out a strong odour. Apples give out ethylene gas when stored. This gas helps in ripening other fruits but damages vegetables that are stored with them. Lemon juice when applied on cut apples helps prevent discolouration.

We have all heard the saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. Yet, how many of us really know the benefits of eating apples. Apples have played an important role in history. In the Bible, the forbidden fruit of knowledge in the Garden of Eden was considered to be an apple. In Greek Mythology, apples are associated with the god Apollo. The origin of the apple can be traced back 4,000 years to the Middle East. Apples have played a pivotal role in scientific discovery as well. It was the falling of an apple that led Isaac Newton to discover the principle of gravity.

Medical Benefits of Apples

• This little red, yellow, or green fruit is a member of the rose family and is a marvel in its mere composition. This is a fruit that is low in calories, fat, and sodium. At the same time, it is a source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
• This fruit has high water content. This quality of the fruit ensures that the apple is low in calories. These characteristics of an apple make it the ideal fruit when a person is on a diet.
• The low calories mean that a person's intake of apples can be high. The fibre ensures that your stomach feels full. In fact, one apple will take care of one fifth of the necessary daily fibre intake. The constituents of dietary fibre are cellulose, pectin, and lignin. Pectin helps in digestion.
• The sodium present in the apple flushes excess water from the body. The vitamin C that is present helps in improving overall health.
• Research conducted by the University of Aberdeen states that the children of mothers who eat apples are less likely to develop asthma. Apples are thus considered to be linked to better respiratory health. Apples are also a source of boron. Boron helps in the development of hard bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis in the process. Even the skin of the apple is considered to be healthy. Apple skin has quercertin, which is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help in reducing cell damage that is caused by naturally produced substances called free radicals, within the body.
• The carbohydrates in an apple ensure that it is a good energy snack. Ten percent of an apple's constituents are carbohydrates. The energy provided will last longer than a chocolate energy bar. This makes an apple an ideal snack throughout the day. This juicy fruit also quenches your thirst and acts as a natural mouth freshener.
• Apples are excellent fruits for lowering the level of blood cholesterol. This is because of the phytonutrients that are present in apples. Phytonutrients are organic components such as flavonoids, lignans, and sulphides that are found in plants and fruits and are known to promote health. Phytonutrients are also considered to be responsible for the reduction of the number of lung cancer cases, as, in certain cases, they have been found to destroy cancer cells.
• Apples have some external applications as well. Fresh pulp scraped from an apple can be used as a poultice, to soothe inflammation and pain. Apple paste gives a cooling effect when applied onto the body.

• The juice of apples contains tannin, which helps in preventing urinary tract infections.

Storing Apples

Apples need to be handled with care to prevent bruising. Apples should be stored in plastic bags in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. This temperature-controlled environment ensures that apples stay crispier and juicier for a longer period. Apples have the ability to absorb odours and should therefore be stored away from foods that give out a strong odour. Apples give out ethylene gas when stored. This gas helps in ripening other fruits but damages vegetables that are stored with them. Lemon juice when applied on cut apples helps prevent discolouration.