Health Benefits of Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Everyone has heard this little truism, but is it true? Yes! In fact, apples offer far more health benefits than most people would have ever imagined. In addition to keeping the doctor way, apples can help you to live a much healthier life. So, the next time you are headed to the kitchen for a snack, think of the following amazing health benefits of apples and make a smart choice.
Improve Brain Health
Studies have found that apples can help to protect the cells of the brain from neurotoxicity. They have also been linked to reduced risks of common mental problems such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Keeping your mind sharp is something that you want to work on all your life so that you have a significantly better chance of keeping your mental faculties as you age.
Reduce the Risk of Strokes
Another great benefit for the brain is that apples can reduce the risk of having a stroke. Strokes are
typically caused when there is a blood clot in the brain, and they can be very deadly. Even when someone survives a stroke, they often lose mobility and many other functions. Just adding an apple to your daily diet, has been
shown to reduce the risk of this catastrophic event.
Decrease the risk of Diabetes
Diabetes is a terrible condition that can cause a broad range of severe problems. Adding just three servings of apples to a diet can
reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 7%. A bonus since apples are quite sweet, so they can replace unhealthy sugary foods while still satisfying that ‘sweet tooth.’ In addition to the
benefits to keeping diabetes away, apples can also reduce the amount of glucose that is absorbed in the digestive tract. You’ll also benefit from improved stimulation of cells in the pancreas (linked to healthier insulin secretion) and improve the health of insulin receptors in the blood. All of these help to improve the health of people who already have diabetes, making it a great food for everyone.
Can Fight Cancer Risks
Apples have been
linked to lower risks of many types of cancer including skin and colon. Many believe that adding apples to your diet can also help to lower the risk of lung and colon cancer. This is likely because of the apple's antimutagenic activity, their high levels of antioxidants and the reduced risk of inflammation for those who eat them. Additional large-scale studies need to be done to determine just how helpful apples can be, but it is quite clear that apples are an effective anti-cancer food.
Reduce the Risk of Death Due to Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women around the world. Apples have high levels of antioxidant flavonoids, which can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Studies have shown that adding an apple to your daily diet can help to reduce the overall risk of dying from heart disease. Keeping your heart healthy is, of course, one of the most important things you can do with your diet.
Aid in Healthy Digestion
Apples are high in
fiber fruit, which can help keep your digestive process. A healthy digestive tract can help you to avoid a wide range of health problems. It can also help you to maintain a healthy weight. In addition to keeping your digestion healthy, it can help your body to be able to pull higher levels of nutrients out of the foods you eat. Eating an apple can help boost the health benefits of all the other foods you consume.
Can Fight Anemia
Some people, especially vegetarians and vegans, can have trouble getting enough iron in their diet, which can cause
anemia. Those who are anemic can have organ problems because of the lack of oxygenation in the blood. Since apples are high in iron, they can be an ideal food for people who don’t consume red meat. Even those who do can benefit from this healthy, natural source of iron.
Can Improve Eye Health
While carrots are associated with eye health, apples can do a lot of good in this area too. In fact, apples have been
shown to improve eyesight and can even be used to treat night blindness. This is mainly due to the fact that apples have flavonoid compounds as well as antioxidant phytonutrients that help to reign in free radicals. These free radicals are linked to glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
Add Delicious Apples to Your Diet
In addition to the health benefits of apples, one of the best things about them is that they are so versatile and delicious. There are many different types of apples, and they all offer great health advantages. Apples are also easy to work into your diet since you can eat them raw, bake with them, make applesauce, and even drink the juice. Just make sure you are aware of how much sugar you are consuming when eating apples, especially if you’re not just eating a whole raw apple. When buying apple based products, make sure that they have no sugar added to get all the health benefits without the problems associated with extra sugar.
