Apple
August 11, 2008
Everyone has heard, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, it will surely take more than a daily apple keeping you healthy. What it makes you healthy is stepping in the right direction. Apples are tasty, easy to carry as snacks, low in calories, very natural mouth refresher, and comparatively inexpensive. In Greek mythology, this fruit was linked with the healing god Apollo, maybe the source for the modern-day proverb that an apple a day will keep the doctor away.
In medieval period, holistic healers were taught that cooked apples can make one free from the disturbances of the intestines, lungs and nervous system. The custom of serving fresh fruits, especially apples, at the end of meals arose due to its favorable effects on digestion as promoted by the physicians Hippocrates and Galen. In addition, apple juice is considered to be one of the earliest remedy as antidepressant!
Apple is a source of both soluble and insoluble fibers. Soluble fibers such as pectin actually help preventing cholesterol buildup in the lining of blood vessels’ wall; therefore it can reduce the risks of atherosclerosis and cardiac disease. The insoluble fibers in apples provide bulk in the gastrointestinal tract that holds water for cleansing and moving food quickly through the alimentary canal.
It is a good to eat apples along with their skins as almost 50 per cent of the natural vitamin C content is just beneath the skins. Eating the skin will also increase insoluble fiber content as most of apples’ fragrance cells are also centered in its skins and as the fruit ripens, the skin cells produce more aroma and flavor. There are plenty of varieties of apples on the market nowadays, although most people have only enjoyed one or two of the very popular. The taste of apples is sweet, sour, soft, smooth or crisp and crunchy. However, it depends upon the variety you choose. The apples are the fruits liked by almost everyone as it is healthy and tasty!
Apple Nutrition Facts:-
(One medium 2½ inch apple that is fresh, raw and with skin)
Calories 81
Carbohydrate 21 gm
Dietary Fiber 4 gm
Soluble Fibers
Insoluble fibers
Calcium 10 mg
Phosphorus 10 mg Iron 0.25 mg
Sodium- almost nil
Potassium 159 mg
Vitamin C 8 mg
Vitamin A 73 IU
Folate 4 mcg
However, the nutritional value of apple differs slightly depending on the variety and size.
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