Superfood to the Rescue: Apples

Apples have many essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. They are free of fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Antioxidants, potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and a few B vitamins provide many of the health benefits attributed to apples. Other important nutrients in apples are calcium, vitamin K, iron, copper, phosphorus and magnesium.

Benefits

1. Aid in Digestion
   Regular consumption of fiber prevents constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other stomach disorders.
2. Anticancer Potential
   Regular consumption of one or more apples a day may reduce the risk for lung and colon cancer.
3. Probiotic Effects
   Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts like a probiotic, which improves the functioning of bacteria living in the large intestine. Apples also stimulate metabolism within the digestive tract and promote good bacteria in the gut.
4. Control Diabetes
   The polyphenols in apples reduce the intake of carbohydrates, lower glucose absorption in the digestive tract and stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. These polyphenols also stimulate insulin receptors on the cells throughout the body, which speeds up the removal of sugar from the bloodstream.
5. Lowers Risk of Heart Diseases
   Apples help lower the risk of stroke and various other heart diseases. Apples can help reduce inflammation in blood vessels, while lowering blood pressure in the body.