An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away,"

addressing the health effects of the fruit, dates from 19th century Wales.

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Health Benefits

Research Suggests

Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk

of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Compared to many other fruits and vegetables,

apples contain relatively low amounts of Vitamin C,

but are a rich source of other antioxidant compounds.

The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits,

helps regulate bowel movements and may thus

reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help

with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling

cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol,

have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing

reabsorption, and are bulky for their caloric content

like most fruits and vegetables.

There is evidence that in vitro apples possess

phenolic compounds which may be cancer-protective

and demonstrate antioxidant activity. The pre-

dominant phenolic phytochemicals in apples are

quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2.

Apple juice concentrate has been found to increase

the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine

in mice, providing a potential mechanism for the

"prevent[ion of] the decline in cognitive performance

that accompanies dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging." Other studies have shown an "alleviat[ion of] oxidative damage and cognitive decline" in mice after the administration of apple juice.

The seeds are mildly poisonous, containing a small amount of amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside; usually not enough to be dangerous to humans, but it can deter birds.

Nutritional value of fruit

Fruits are generally high in fiber, water and vitamin C. Fruits also contain various phytochemicals that do not yet have an RDA/RDI listing under most nutritional factsheets, and which research indicates are required for proper long-term cellular health and disease prevention. Regular consumption of fruit is associated with reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease (especially coronary heart disease), stroke, Alzheimer disease, cataracts, and some of the functional declines associated with aging.

Diets that include a sufficient amount of potassium from fruits and vegetables also help reduce the chance of developing kidney stones and may help reduce the effects of bone-loss. Fruits are also low in calories which would help lower ones calorie intake as part of a weight loss diet.

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National Apple Dumpling Day

Apple Pie Recipes

Resources: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from Wikipedia/article apple/and other related pages. Top Photo: