Take advantage of this fall produce and bite into a juicy apple today
September is here and with it, the start of the harvest season of one of our favorite superfoods (and superfruits!), the apple.
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It's
no surprise that apples are good for you—it's earned the "keep the
doctor away" reputation, after all—but there are a number of
lesser-known reasons to pick up a juicy one today:
1. Apples lower cholesterol.
One
medium-sized apple contains about four grams of fiber. Some of that is
in the form of pectin, a type of soluble fiber that has been linked to
lower levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. That's because it blocks
absorption of cholesterol, according to WebMD, which helps the body to
use it rather than store it.
2. They keep you full.
The wealth of fiber an apple provides keep you feeling full for longer
without costing you a lot of calories—there are about 95 in a
medium-sized piece of fruit. That's because it takes our bodies longer
to digest complex fiber than more simple materials like sugar or refined
grains. Anything with at least three grams of fiber is a good source of
the nutrient; most people should aim to get about 25 to 40 grams a day.
3. Apples may keep you slim.
One component of an apple's peel (which also has most of the fiber) is
something called ursolic acid, which was linked to a lower risk of
obesity in a recent study in mice. That's because it boosts calorie burn
and increases muscle and brown fat, HuffPost UK reports.
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4. They can help breathing problems.
Five or more apples a week (less than an apple a day!) has been linked
with better lung function, most likely because of an antioxidant called
quercetin found in the skin of apples (as well as in onions and
tomatoes), the BBC reports. The breath benefits of apples extend even
further: A 2007 study found that women who eat plenty of the fruit are
less likely to have children with asthma.
5. Apples boost your immune system.
While they don't quite rival oranges, apples are considered a good
source of immune system-boosting vitamin C, with over 8 milligrams per
medium-sized fruit, which amounts to roughly 14 percent of your daily
recommended intake.
6. Apples may fight cancer.
In 2004, French research found that a chemical in apples helped prevent
colon cancer, WebMD reported. And in 2007, a study from Cornell
University found additional compounds, called triterpenoids, which seem
to fight against liver, colon, and breast cancers.
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7. They decrease the risk of diabetes.
A 2012 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
found that apples, as well as pears and blueberries, were linked with a
lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes because of a class of
antioxidants, anthocyanins, that are also responsible for red, purple,
and blue colors in fruits and veggies.
8. They're good for your brain.
The
fruit has been linked to an uptick in acetylcholine production, which
communicates between nerve cells, so apples may help your memory and
lower your chances of developing Alzheimer's.
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