Monday, September 10, 2012
Fresh apples have many health benefits
Is there anything
more satisfying than going to a local orchard, picking crisp, juicy apples and
crunching into one, fresh off the tree?
It’s enjoyable for people of all ages. I wouldn’t mention this to the kids, as they would
inevitably roll their eyes, but there are many health benefits of apples, too.
First, an apple contains several important vitamins: B1
(thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B9 (folate)
and vitamin C. Also vital to good
health are the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and
potassium.
Phytonutrients are also beneficial to human health — these
are compounds found in plants.
These phytonutrients may protect the brain from diseases such as
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, and are believed to be beneficial in the
prevention of heart disease and diabetes.
Last year, the
Iowa Women's Health Study reported that, among the 34,000-plus women it's been
tracking for nearly 20 years, apples were associated with a lower risk of death
from both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.
Then there is fiber.
Apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which aids in digestion
and weight loss. Apples are
considered a low-glycemic food and therefore do not cause a rapid rise in blood
sugar. To get the most benefit out of apples, the whole fruit should be
eaten. Peeling the skin or cooking
apples results in loss of some of the nutrients.
As apple season gets under way, let’s all get out in the fresh air, support local
farms and orchards, have fun, and reap health benefits as well.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy
Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
# posted by ----------------- @ 9:01 AM 
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Agreed. What do you recommend using to wash apples? Do you use a commercial spray, soap and water or a soak in a vinegar/water mix?
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