By Jean Sumner
We have all heard the old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and reviewing the benefits of consuming apples seems to imply that this statement is accurate.
Studies have found that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away. Apples are loaded with fiber and studies have shown that people who eat high fiber foods gain some protection against Parkinson’s disease. They have even been cited in cancer research as beneficial to pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer.
Women who eat at least one apple per day are 28% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This is primarily related to the soluble fiber in apples.
Apples also reduce cholesterol because the soluble fiber binds with fats in the intestine and moves it out of the body. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.
These mighty fruits also have a role in preventing gallstones. Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fiber to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.
Apples help control irritable bowel syndrome. This is again due to the high amount of fiber in apples. Fiber also plays a role in weight control.
We live in a toxic environment. Apples are great at helping our liver detox. And we all know without our liver functioning we would not be around very long.
Apples also boost your immune system. Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re stressed out.
So I guess the old saying holds a lot of truth!