Apples scattered on a wooden surface. Photo is taken from BBC
London, UK (BBN) - Packed with vitamins, antioxidants and fibre, apples are one of our favourite healthy fruits. Discover what else makes apples so good for you.
Cheap and readily available in the UK, apples come in an array of colours depending on the variety (of which there are around 2,000) from pale yellows and greens through to deep reds.
Their taste and texture vary too, from juicy to firm and sweet to tangy. Due to the large variety of apples available, you can buy British apples pretty much all year round, but traditionally apples are in season in the UK from September to February.
NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF APPLES
Apples are extremely rich in antioxidants that help to protect our cells from free radical damage caused by factors such as pollution, cigarette smoke, UV rays and even inflammation within the body, often as a result of a poor diet or some medications.
Apples also contain dietary fibre needed to support a healthy digestive system, as well as vitamins A and C that support the immune system, vitamin K needed for blood clotting, biotin (vitamin B7) that helps to break down fat, and iodine which is involved in healthy thyroid function.
You may be familiar with the old proverb, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, but is there really a link between eating apples and general good health?
CAN APPLES BE GOOD FOR LOWERING CHOLESTEROL?
Apples contains pectin, a natural fibre found in most plants and some recent research by the European Journal of Nutrition found that eating pectin-rich whole apples had a cholesterol-lowering effect in healthy volunteers, compared to apple juice which did not.
A study by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also showed how consuming around 75g of dried apple (approximately two apples) helped to reduce cholesterol in postmenopausal women.
CAN APPLES HELP PROTECT AGAINST DIABETES?
Apples are low on the glycaemic index thanks to their fibre content. This, together with their high flavonoid content, may help to improve insulin sensitivity, which is important both for weight management and preventing diabetes.
CAN APPLES PREVENT OBESITY?
Animal studies have shown that pectin extracted from apples may help to regulate the gut microbiome (gut bacteria), which in turn may help to prevent obesity and other inflammatory disorders. However, more research is required before the same claim can be demonstrated in human populations.
CAN APPLES HELP PROTECT AGAINST HEART DISEASE?
Apples contain protective compounds such as quercetin, an antioxidant. Research by the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition found that those with higher quercetin levels (mainly through eating apples) had a lower risk of several chronic diseases including heart disease.
HOW IS BEST TO BUY, STORE AND COOK APPLES?
Where possible, it may be a good idea to buy organic apples as research has shown they may be higher in antioxidants compared to non-organic varieties. Keeping them in the fridge will keep them fresher for longer, but they naturally have a long shelf life, lasting for several weeks on average, so if you don’t keep them in the fridge, store them away somewhere dark and cool.
Lentil, walnut, apple & blue cheese salad on a plate with a jug of sauce
HOW DO DIFFERENT VARIETIES COMPARE NUTRITIONALLY?
All apples have nutritional benefits and can be consumed as part of a healthy, balanced diet. However, there is some evidence to suggest that Granny Smith apples may be at the top of the list!
WHAT ABOUT APPLE JUICE?
A 150ml glass of unsweetened apple juice does count towards one of your five-a-day but can only ever count as a maximum of one portion, no matter how much you drink.
It is worth bearing in mind that the sugar from apple juice is quickly absorbed into the blood stream, as the juicing process releases the sugars and removes the fibre.
The British Dental Association recommend you drink apple juice at mealtimes to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
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