Fresh yellow apple

Health Benefits of Apples

Delicious and crunchy, the apple fruit is known for its impressive list of phytonutrients and antioxidants. Research shows that its ingredients are essential for optimal growth, development and overall health.

Apples are low in calories; 100g of fresh fruit slices provide only 50 calories. However, they contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. Still, the fruit is high in dietary fiber, which helps prevent intestinal absorption of LDL, or bad cholesterol, from your diet. Fiber also protects the colonic mucosa from toxic substances by binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.

Apples are rich in antioxidant phytonutrients flavonoids and polyphenols. The total antioxidant strength (ORAC value) of 100 g of apple fruit is 5900 TE. Some important flavonoids in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and proanthocyanidin B2. Plus, they're rich in tartaric acid, which gives them a sour taste. Taken together, these compounds help protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals.

Apple fruit contains a lot of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Eating foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance to infectious agents and removes harmful pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

Additionally, apple fruit is a good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamine, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). Together these vitamins act as cofactors for metabolism and various synthetic enzymes