Date: September 20th
Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? Apples provide key nutrients to keep you healthy. Adding this delicious fruit to your diet that also offers many health benefits is a step in the right direction for the maintenance of good health. This nutritious fruit is readily available all year round, is low in glycemic load, contains no fat, is easy to carry for snacking, and is inexpensive. There are over 7,500 varieties of apples available around the world, some of the most popular varieties are red and golden delicious, fuji, northern spy, granny smith, gala which are not only delicious but also high in antioxidant levels.
Nutrients
It may fit in the size of your palm but one apple carries a wide variety of nutrients. It has soluble fibre which is great for healthy digestion and gut health, and has Vitamin C which is associated with boosting your immunity and preventing infections. It also contains trace amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and folate, which are great for overall good health.
Health Benefits
Apples also contain antioxidants such as quercetin, catechin, and chlorogenic acid, all of which may help in reducing risk of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes.
Apples being high in soluble fibre and water content, it aids in weight control, blood sugar management and reducing cholesterol levels. Also, because of its high quercetin levels, it helps in reducing uric acid levels that are linked with gout and helps in reducing inflammation.
Uses
Here at At Village Juicery we have an array of cold pressed juices that include apples as well as our Organic Apple Juice Infused Cranberries which works great as a light snack or topping and our Apple Crumble Jar for anytime of the day! Apples are a versatile fruit, here are some simple ways to enjoy them:
- Slice an apple and spread with nut or seed butter
- Chop an apple into a salad
- Quarter an apple, brush the pieces with some coconut oil, sprinkle them with cinnamon and bake until soft . Drizzle some honey or maple syrup for taste.
- Baked Apple chips
Consider this!
Some people prefer to peel their apples but we recommend trying to include the skin. It contains the most phytonutrients in the fruit and offers some extra fibre intake. When possible try to get your hands on organic ones to avoid pesticides. To remove pesticides from the skin, apples should be soaked in 10% vinegar and 90% water for 10-20 minutes, rinse it with water before eating it.
Written By Nidhi Desai, CNP Nidhi is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner and a Metabolic Balance Coach. She graduated from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, Mississauga, ON. She strongly believes that one can heal if they are persistent and committed to change their eating habits, lifestyle, environment and of course by taking therapeutic supplements. Her focus now is to educate, support and guide her clients to reach and maintain their specific health goals.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442131/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-health-benefits-of-apples
https://lifehacker.com/the-most-nutritious-types-of-apples-ranked-by-antioxid-1556951427