Key Benefits
Apples offer some specific health benefits.
· Diabetics—eat your apples! Apples contain flavonoids and phytonutrients (plant stuff) that regulate blood sugar. Not only that, apples contain galacturonic acid, a substance that lowers the body’s need for insulin.
· Apples contain quercetin and naringin, two cancer-fighting substances.
· Apples fill you up but don’t add a lot of calories, making them perfect for dieters or for anyone trying to maintain a normal weight. Eating an apple before a meal can help reduce what you eat in the meal.
· Apples are a heart-healthy food and may lower the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular heart disease. It is not clear how this happens—whether it’s something in the apples or whether it’s because people who eat a lot of apples tend to have more normal weights.
· Apples contain something called phloridzin, a flavonoid or plant nutrient, which supports bone health and promotes greater bone density. Apples are the only substance known to contain this. So if you’re worried about osteoporosis, supplement your calcium tablets with a daily apple or two (You can eat two … they’re that low in calories.).
· Quercetin, an antioxidant found in apples, can help increase lung function and endurance.
