What's in an Apple?
You've certainly heard the saying, "an apple a day will keep the doctor away." One apple a day will certainly not keep the doctor away, but it is a step into the right direction. Apples are a delicious fruit. They are easy to take to work for snacking. Apples are also very low in calories, carry a lot of juice and they are still very inexpensive to purchase at your local grocery store.
As this website is about fiber, here is some interesting information about Apples you might not be aware of. Apples are a big source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber such as pectin has proven to help to prevent cholesterol buildup in the lining of your blood vessel walls. That way Apples help reducing the incident of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The insoluble fiber in apples provides bulk in the intestinal tract, holding water to cleanse and it helps to move food quickly through your digestive system.
But where is all the fiber in an Apple? It's in the skin. It is therefore a good idea to eat apples with their skin. That is the best way to get most of the health benefits from an Apple. Almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Most of an apple's fragrance cells are also concentrated in the skin and as they ripen, the skin cells develop more aroma and flavor. More flavor is good. Dieting already carries the burden of bitter and boring tasting shakes, bars and other stuff. Eating something that tastes good and helps a) your health and b) to reduce your weight - that's perferct.
There are literally hundreds of varieties of apples on the market today, although most people have only tasted one or two of the most popular such as Red Delicious or Granny Smith. Most grocery stores carry an average of about 10 different flavors. It might also depend on your geographical location to see different kind of apples in your local supermarket. Apples can be sweet, tart, soft and smooth or crisp and crunchy. Let's go - Have an apple today!
Apple Nutrition Facts
(*One medium 2-1/2 inch apple, fresh, raw, with skin)
Calories 81
Carbohydrate 21 grams
Dietary Fiber 4 grams
Soluble Fiber |
Insoluble fiber
Calcium 10 mg
Phosphorus 10 mg
Iron .25 mg
Sodium 0.00 mg
Potassium 159 mg
Vitamin C 8 mg
Vitamin A 73 IU
Folate 4 mcg
*The nutritional value of apples will vary slightly depending on the variety and size.
Source of data: USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory