“An apple a day…” is no joke. This small fruit offers big health benefits. All it takes is eating one medium apple to count as 1 cup of fruit! Apples offer a good amount of soluble fiber and vitamin C, apples promote weight loss because they satisfy hunger for few calories, and apples have been associated with a lower risk of death from both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. One study showed that frequent apple eaters had the lowest risk of suffering strokes compared to non-apple eaters. Experts attribute the heart-healthy benefits to antioxidant compounds found in apples, which help prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and inhibit inflammation. People who eat apples may be less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Getting ready to work out? Eat an apple for an added boost of stamina. Apples deliver an antioxidant called quercetin, which aids stamina by making oxygen more available to the lungs.
Looking for ways to add apples into your diet? Add apple juice to tea, make an apple and walnut salad, make baked apples for dessert, make apple chips, make homemade applesauce and then add it into oatmeal, or mix up some banana-apple-cranberry muffins for a triple dose of goodness.