When
it comes making healthy food choices nowadays, it is
real easy to get lost among all the different healthy options now
available at
your local store. Sometimes it is better to stick with what you know
than to
try every new fangled health food idea that marketers dream up in order
get you
to part ways with your hard earned cash. Sometimes all you need to do
to live a
healthier life is to look in the bottom of your refrigerator and pull a
nice
big juicy apple out of the crisper.
Everybody has heard of
that old adage “An apple a day keeps
the doctor away”. Well, it turns out that people have not
been saying that for
generations just because it happens to rhyme nicely. According to
recent
research, there is a whole lot of truth behind this little
rhyme’s claim.
Apples, it turns out, happen to be extremely beneficial fruit and
capable of
giving you a lot for a little bit of pocket change.
Apples can be found in
the supermarket pretty much year
round for a really good price and have the tendency to come in a
variety of
shapes, colors and sizes. They are also a very versatile fruit, showing
up in
main courses, salads, desserts, and even can stand alone a healthy
snack.
The health benefits of the apple:
The
apple is loaded
with many vitamins, minerals and cancer fighting antioxidants. They are
also
low in calories and high in dietary fiber making them an ideal diet
food.
Research has shown that eating apples can help reduce the risk of
various
cancers including colon, prostate and lung cancer, reduce cholesterol,
help
improve bowel regularity, and even work to reduce the risk of stroke,
type two
diabetes and asthma. On top of that apples can even help you keep your
youthful
appearance, preventing wrinkles and promoting healthy hair growth.
Apples contain:
- Vitamin
A which is good for vision, reproduction, and urinary tract problems.
- A
whole slew of B Vitamins (thiamine, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, and B12) which
help
with maintaining healthy skin and hair.
- Fiber:
In fact, an apple has more fiber than most cereals making it great for
regularity.
- Pectin
which helps lower cholesterol.
- Vitamin
C for a healthy immune system and to help fight off cancer causing free
radicals.
- Niacin
which can help opne up blood vessels and lower cholesterol.
- Phosphorous:
for healthy bones and teeth.
- Magnesium
which is good for a healthy heart, strong bones and can also aid in the
absorption of other minerals such as calcium and potassium (important
for women
who are pregnant, menopausal or at risk for osteoporosis).
- Iron
which the liver and blood need in order to function.
- Potassium:
a mineral that helps lower blood pressure and keeps the heart healthy.
- Quercetin:
a flavanoid that
has been found to help
fight prostate cancer.
- Phytonutrients:
found in the skin of the apple, capable of stopping the enlargement of
colon
cancer cells.
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As you can see the little
apple is a nutritional powerhouse
as well as a delicious snack. Eating one can help you treat
constipation, lower
cholesterol, get rid of bodily toxins, give a boost to beneficial
bacteria in
your intestinal tract, help stop diarrhea and gastroenteritis and keep
your
immune system in tip top shape.