Apple tree originated in Western Asia, where its wild ancestor, the Alma, is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same.
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans.
Apples are a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. One medium sized apple has about 13% of the recommended daily value of dietary fiber and 11% of vitamin C. One apple can supply you with 72 calories, two of them being from fat. Other nutrients that the apple has are vitamin K, vitamin B6, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium.
BENEFITS OF EATING APPLE
- Ø Apples contain vitamin C which helps boost your immune system.
- Ø Phenols also prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a dangerous form of bad cholesterol.
- Ø Women who eat three apples a day lose more weight while dieting than women who do not eat fruit while dieting.
- Ø Quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in apples has been found to help prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells
- Ø Phytonutrients in the skin of apples inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells by 43%
- Ø Food containing flavonoids like those in apples may reduce risk of lung cancer as much as 50%
- Ø Dietary phenolics such as flavonoids (found in apples) have inhibitory effects on the developments of carcinogenic substances in the bladder, thereby reducing risk of bladder cancer, especially in smokers
- Ø Apples contain phenols. Phenols reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.
- Ø Phenols also prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a dangerous form of bad cholesterol.
- Ø Apples prevent tooth decay. The juice of the apple can kill around 80% of bacteria.
- Ø Apples are a low GI food so you don’t get that sugar high and then crash.
- Ø Apples are a great snacking option in between meals.
- Ø Apples have a high percentage of water in their make up which can help contribute to you daily water intake.
- Ø Apples contain substances called phytonutrients. These prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
- Ø Apples also contain quercetin. This may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Ø Quercetin has also been found to he
- Ø An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.
- Ø Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells.
- Ø Pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.
- Ø Pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.
- Ø Apples are a great source of vitamins, minerals and other important chemicals.
- Ø Apples are also found to play a role in inhibiting age related problems, preventing wrinkles and promoting hair growth.
- Ø Apples contain potassium, which is needed for regulation of water balance and muscle function.
- Ø Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type two diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.
- Ø Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.
- Ø We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best—and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits—like apples.mainly For those who drinks.
- Ø A Japanese study on animals suggests that procyanidin, a chemical compound in apples may help with hair growth. However the results were inconclusive to make an assumption on the effects of procyanidin on humans.
- Ø The seeds are poisonous because of the small amount of amygdalin, however it won’t have any toxic effect unless eaten in a high quantity
- Ø A group of apple compounds could protect the brain from damage that causes Alzheimer and Parkinsonism. Apple phenolics found in fresh apple can protect nerve cells.
- Ø Apples also help with wrinkles. sun caused skin damage may be repelled with consumption of fruits like apples and prunes, vegetables and olive oil.
- Ø An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls.
