National Eat A Red Apple Day

Today is National Eat A Red Apple Day! When you imagine or draw an apple, what first comes to mind? A nice, juicy, red apple! With all of the health benefits that apples provide, the saying ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ really has truth to it! Apples are low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol. They don’t offer protein, but apples are a good source of vitamin C and fiber. Apples have been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved gut health and reduced risk of stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and some cancers.

Apples may lower cholesterol and high blood pressure. Studies have linked apple consumption with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, which may be related to the cholesterol-lowering benefits of the soluble fiber found in apples. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gellike material. This helps prevent cholesterol buildup in the lining of blood vessel walls, therefore lowering the incidence of atherosclerosis (restricted blood flow in the arteries due to plaque buildup) and heart disease. It can also help lower blood pressure levels. A study found that a higher intake of soluble fiber was associated with a decreased cardiovascular disease risk. Apples also promote heart health because they have polyphenols, which are linked to lower blood pressure and stroke risk.

Apples can aid with digestion – Soluble fiber helps slow down digestion, allowing you to feel full, and also slows the digestion of glucose, which helps control your blood sugar. Meanwhile, insoluble fiber can help move food through your system and aid with constipation and regularity. A healthy digestive system can help promote weight loss as well. The fiber in apples also helps keep you feeling fuller for longer, which makes you less likely to overeat. It also helps stabilize blood sugar, which makes apples a perfect fruit for diabetics. A medium-sized apple is a good source of fiber: It contains 4.4 grams of fiber, covering 16 percent of the daily value

Apple skin contains the flavonoid quercetin, which can help regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. These are two ways in which it may affect asthma and allergic reactions. Inflammation is the starting point of illness and disease, so when you eat apples, it helps reduce inflammation and decreases your risk of developing diseases like cancer. Also, apples may reduce the risk of certain cancers because of their very high level of antioxidants. Research indicates that in laboratory studies, these antioxidants have been shown to slow cancer cell growth. And they can protect the cells in your pancreas, which can lower your chances of type 2 diabetes.

Support healthy immune system: Apples contain immune-boosting vitamin C which plays many roles in helping the immune system function by strengthening the epithelial (a type of tissue) barrier against pathogens and guarding against environmental oxidative stress, such as pollution to radiation.

Just be sure to eat the apple skin as well, which contains much of the apple’s insoluble fiber and nutrients. However, Private Home Health Care does not recommend eating the WHOLE apple…you can stop once you reach the core