The Juicy Delight: Exploring the Wonders of the Apple Fruit

Crunchy and delicious, apple fruit belongs to the rose family and is one of the most favorite and popular fruits among fitness lovers who firmly believe in the concept of “health is wealth.” Hundreds of varieties of apples are meant to be used either as dessert or table fruits, and cooking varieties are grown in the US and worldwide.

This beautiful fruit is loaded with abundant phytonutrients that, in the real sense are essential for optimal health. Certain phytochemicals in apples have disease-prevention and health-promoting properties, thereby, truly justifying the adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Health benefits of apple

Get whiter, healthier teeth

An apple doesn’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple promotes the production of saliva in your mouth, thus reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria and harmful oral pathogens.

Avoid Alzheimer’s

A new study performed on animals shows that drinking apple juice could keep brain disorders especially Alzheimer’s and dementia away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Animals in the study that were fed an apple-rich diet showed higher levels of the brain chemical "acetylcholine" and performed better in maze tests than those on a usual diet.

Protect against Parkinson’s

Recent research has shown that individuals who eat high-fiber foods like fruits gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson's disease, a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown of the dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Scientists have linked this to the antioxidant properties and free radical-fighting power contained in apples.

Combat all sorts of cancers

Scientists from the ACCR (American Association for Cancer Research) agree that eating flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing various types of cancer by up to 23 percent.

Some researchers at Cornell University have identified many beneficial compounds – triterpenoids – in apple peel that have vigorous anti-cancerous cell growth activities in the liver, colon, and breast. They also state that extracts from whole apples can reduce the size and number of mammary tumors in rats.

Decrease your risk of diabetes

Researchers of the National Diabetes Institute in the U.S. found that women who eat at least one apple a day are 30 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Apples are loaded with essential amino acids and soluble fiber, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

Avert hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the anal canal (rectum), and while not life-threatening, these can be very painful. There are multiple factors behind this inflammatory disease. Foods rich in fiber like apples can prevent you from straining too much and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.

Precautions

No severe side effects are linked to apple consumption. Apple seeds contain cyanide, a potent poison. Eating too many apple seeds can be potentially fatal; thus apple seeds should not be consumed in large quantities.