Among the long list of perfectly wonderful things to love about fall, for me, apples reign supreme. Apple cider, apple pie, apple fritters, and best and most perfectly of all, just a plain, crisp, fall-time apple!
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| Red Apple Stock Photo By m_bartosch | http///www.freedigitalphotos.net |
Apples, when not being doused in gobs of sugar, and of course bought organically (unfortunately, time and time again, non-organic apples are on the top-ten list of most heavily chemically-sprayed produce, and thus should be avoided) are an amazing disease-fighting antioxidant and offer a wealth of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Such a simple food provides you with vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, riboflavin, potassium, copper, manganese and magnesium.1 No wonder we have the old adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
You may know that there are 7,500 varieties of this delicious fruit, but sticking with a basic red delicious has recently been proven to pack the highest antioxidant levels, mostly coming from the skin of the apple.2
While the apple may be one of the most basic and simple fruits, it has no shortage of health benefits. As does any well-rounded, healing wholefood, it aids in cancer prevention, and lowers risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s. An advantage that even surprised me was their ability to act as an anti-inflammatory which is hugely beneficial to asthma suffers. In fact, apples have stood out among other natural treatments for respiratory issues. These delicious treats are also hugely beneficial in helping to manage diabetes as they have been linked to reducing the fluctuation of blood sugar levels that occur in the bloodstream, but the apple polyphenol also “speeds up the removal of sugar from our bloodstream and gets it to our cells, which need it for the metabolism and proper organ function.” One of my favorite discoveries was learning the science behind why my mouth feels so clean after eating an apple. The fiber from apples actually cleanses the teeth, while the antibacterial properties of the fruit keep bacteria and viruses from infecting the body.1
There is no doubt that we can all benefit from an apple a day.
