7 health benefits of apples

We all have heard that apples are useful, perhaps, from our earlychildhood. Onewould get numerous instructions from the older generation to eat fresh fruits in order to obtain vitamins, minerals and other useful substances necessary for our health.

On top of this, an apple is one of the most delicious and affordable fruits, which is present in our diet for literally all around a year. Hardly anyone would argue with this;)

So what are apples benefits for our health?

Even the ancient greeks talked about the healing properties of apples. And now there is a saying among the people: "An eaten apple replaces a visit to the doctor."

But oneshould understand that it is impossible to replenish the daily intake of vitamins and minerals with just one type of fruit. For example, apples contain ten times less vitamin C than oranges. One apple weighing 150 grams provides us with only 8% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C and only 2% of RDI of vitamin A. At the same time, there is 50% more vitamin A in apples than in the oranges - this vitamin helps protect against colds and other infections and maintains good eyesight level. But in terms of iodine content, apples, especially their seeds, are second only to seafood. They say that if you eat 5-6 apple seeds a day, then the recommended daily intake for iodine will be fully satisfied.

When scientists decided to check how this corresponds to reality, it turned out that the vitamin content in this fruit is not that great. We wrote about the amount of vitamins A and C above, and the amount of other vitamins is even less.

What is the healing secret of this fruit then?

Further research has shown that the main benefit of apples is antioxidants. It is these substances that protect us from cancer, diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and from aging in general. And in terms of the content of these substances, apples occupy a leading position among other fruits. And, very importantly, unlike vitamins, antioxidants are not destroyed during storage. Plus, they protect the lungs from the effects of nicotine. It has been noticed: for apple lovers, the lungs work much better.

They also say that one apple a day helps against seven diseases.

Let's dwell on 7 health benefits of apples for now:

1. Apples restore blood. They are rich in iron, and regular consumption of apples increases hemoglobin levels, hence is recommended for anemia and after a lot of blood loss.

2. In addition, apples are recommended for hypertensive patients. Fruits can lower blood pressure by removing excess salt and water from the body. Those suffering from hypertension should eat at least one sweet and sour apple every morning or drink 1/2 cup of green apple juice an hour before meals.

3. Apples stimulate a surge of vitality, help with stress and fatigue, strengthen the cardiovascular system and improve brain function. This is due to content of minerals: magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, selenium and iodine, as well as vitamins C, B1, B2, PP, E.

4. Apples are useful for food poisoning. Their plant cells are a natural sorbent and therefore well remove poisons from the body.

5. Apples lower cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber in apples binds fats in the intestines, which leads to a decrease of cholesterol levels in blood and protects against excessive accumulation of cholesterol. Nutritionists have come to the conclusion that after three weeks of the apple diet, the cholesterol level can decrease by 30%. And to lower it by 16%, you just need to eat 2-3 apples a day.

6. This fruit improves digestion, because it contains the necessary organic acids: malic, citric, salicylic and boric. Thanks to them, apples stimulate the production of bile and gastric juice. It is believed that one apple 20 minutes before a meal guarantees a good appetite.

7. Apples help you lose weight. Apples have a rather low-calorie content, if consumed fresh and baked - 47 and 66 kcal per 100 g, respectively. There is no fat in fruits, but there are carbohydrates that can give you a feeling of fullness for a while. But you should not get carried away with dried apples, since their calorie content rises to 253 kcal per 100 g. It is believed that the best diet for slimness is to eat baked apples with kefir for several days. In this case, the load on the stomach will be small, and toxins are removed from the body. For obesity, juice mixtures are made: apple juice - 100 ml, melon juice - 50 ml, tomato juice - 5 ml, lemon juice - 25 ml.

Finally, the apples are delicious. Eat apples and be healthy!

Don`t forget! Everything is fine in moderation. The main guarantee of good health is the knowledge of the proper balance. Fanaticism doesn`t lead to anything good, even when it comes to proper nutrition. You shouldn`t eat more than 2-3 medium apples per a day. The acids they contain can`t only act as an accelerator of metabolism, but also have an irritating effect on mucous membranes.

Unfortunately, apples are not good for everyone. It is undesirable to eat them in their raw form for people with peptic ulcer disease, especially duodenal ulcer, since the acid contained in the fruits will irritate the diseased mucous membrane.

Eating apples in the morning will be beneficial for constipation and will help the body tune in to work. However, the use of these fruits on an empty stomach is unacceptable for gastritis with high acidity, peptic ulcer, cholelithiasis.

Although one apple eaten after meals would not hurt even for those cases J

To be continued...