Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Benefits of Apple



Apples are delicious fruits! They have striking colour and a rosy aroma as they belong to the rose family of plants, Rosaceae. They are scientifically known to be full of minerals and vitamins.

Do you know that Apples are a store house of fibres with about 4 grams of fibre enclosed in a medium-sized apple. That’s where the popular saying comes from – “An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away”


1. Get whiter, healthier teeth:

   An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production   of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

2. Avoid Alzheimer’s:

   A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and     fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet        showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those
  on a regular diet.

3. Protect against Parkinson’s:

   Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of     protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s
 dopamine producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the  antioxidants contained therein.

4. Curb all sorts of cancers:

   Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the    consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by    up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—    triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver,  colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number  and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has  recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

5. Decrease your risk of diabetes:

   Top 20 flat tummy foods
  Our best healthy apple recipes
  6 reasons to eat more apples
  Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than       those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood
  sugar swings.

6. Reduce cholesterol:

   The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates into lower    cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

7. Get a healthier heart:

  An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of    cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents    the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds    inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

8. Prevent gallstones:

Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.

9. Beat diarrhea and constipation:

Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.

10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome:

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.

11. Avert hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.

12. Control your weight:

      Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart disease,
     stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To manage your weight and
     improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in fibre will fill          you up without costing you too many calories.

13. Detoxify your liver:

     We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is                        responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad
     detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best           and easiest things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits like apples.

14. Boost your immune system:

    Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin
    can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you're stressed out.

15. Prevent cataracts:

    Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies suggest that
     people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants like apples are 10 to 15 per
     cent less likely to develop cataracts

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