Did you know?
Delicious and crunchy apple fruit is one of the most popular fruits, favorite of health conscious, fitness lovers who believe in the concept “health is wealth.” This wonderful fruit is packed with rich phyto-nutrients that in the true senses indispensable for optimal health. The antioxidants in apple have much health promoting and disease prevention properties; thus truly justifying the adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Apples are obtained from the medium-sized tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. The apple tree is originated in the mineral-rich mountain ranges of Kazakhstan, and now being cultivated in many parts of the world.
Apple fruit features oval or pear shape; and the outer skin has different colors depending upon the cultivar type. Internally, the juicy pulp has been off-white to cream in color and has to mix of mild sweet and tart taste. Its seeds are inedible because of their bitter taste.
Hundreds of varieties of apples are either eaten as table fruits or as dessert fruit grown in the US and worldwide. Some of the apples are sought-after in cooking and baking too.
Health benefits of apple
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Delicious and crunchy apple fruit is notable
for its impressive list of phtyto-nutrients, and anti-oxidants. Studies
suggest that its components are essential for normal growth,
development and overall well-being.
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Apples are low in calories; 100 g of fresh
fruit slices provide only 50 calories. They, however, contain no
saturated fats or cholesterol. Nonetheless, the fruit is rich in
dietary fiber, which helps prevent absorption of dietary-LDL or bad
cholesterol in the gut. The fiber also saves the colon mucous membrane
from exposure to toxic substances by binding to cancer-causing
chemicals inside the colon.
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Apples are rich in antioxidant phyto-nutrients
flavonoids
and polyphenolics.
The total measured anti-oxidant strength
(ORAC value) of 100 g apple fruit is 5900 TE. Some of the
important
flavonoids in apples are quercetin,
epicatechin, and procyanidin
B2. Additionally, they are also good in tartaric acid that
gives tart flavor to them.
Altogether, these compounds help the body protect from deleterious
effects of free
radicals.
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Apple fruit contains good
quantities of vitamin-C
and beta-carotene.
Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich
in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious
agents
and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
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Further, apple fruit is a good source
of B-complex
vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6).
Together these vitamins help as co-factors for enzymes in metabolism as
well as in various synthetic functions inside the body.
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Apple also contains a small amount of minerals
like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. Potassium is an important
component of cell and body fluids helps controlling heart rate and
blood pressure; thus, counters the bad influences of sodium.
So ladies, apple also can give health in your daily diet. Grab some apple and let eat!!Credit post: Nutrition and youPicture from: Stuff Point