We’ve all heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” In fact, this popular proverb originated in 19th century Wales, hence why many of us today believe there is little to no truth behind its meaning. Is it just a silly rhyme? Was it information that was later proven false decades down the line? These questions swirl around our heads.
However, what many people don’t realize is, apples are one of the most nutritious fruits around. Although eating an apple every single day seems tedious and boring and, not to mention, won’t guarantee that you never have to visit the doctor ever again, here are four of the many ways apples can boost your health in the long-run:
1. Apples can aid with weight loss.
Being low in calories and high in fiber, the consumption of apples may be able to assist some people with dropping excess pounds. In a study where women were given either three pears, three apples, or three oat cookies, of the same caloric value, to consume every day for 10 weeks, those who consumed the apples lost the most weight overall.
Although weight loss can be a cosmetic benefit in the eyes of some people, the true benefit of weight loss when it is needed has to do with obtaining a healthier BMI, better mobility, a lower risk of certain cancers, lower blood pressure, and reduced cholesterol levels.
2. They can promote good gut bacteria.
Did you know that apples contain over 100 million healthy bacteria? Healthy bacteria have been shown to improve overall gut health. One prebiotic commonly found in apples is butyrate, which feeds prebiotics (good bacteria in the gut) and, in turn, helps eliminate harmful bacteria that would otherwise potentially trigger various digestive and non-digestive health problems.
- Your risk of heart disease may be lower.
The soluble fiber found in apples can help lower blood cholesterol and, as a result, may reduce your risk of developing heart disease, especially when coupled with an all-around healthy diet, physical exercise, and stress management. Lower cholesterol levels have also been associated with a lower risk of chest pain, heart attacks, and strokes.
4. Eating more apples can reduce your risk of diabetes.
According to Defeat Diabetes, not only are apples (especially green apples) safe and even healthy for type 1 and type 2 diabetics, those at risk for developing diabetes can benefit from adding more apples to their diet to lower their risk of future, potential diagnosis. The antioxidants contained in apples are to thank for this benefit.
Learn more about how to upkeep good health by referring to the braceyourhealth website.
Conclusion
Apples aren’t a cure-all, and everyone knows that eating an apple daily won’t magically make you immune from any ailments or diseases. However, it has been proven that these delectable fruits have a handful of benefits that are hard to ignore. Thus, adding more apples to your diet can possibly have noticeable impacts on your health over the years.
