6 Serious Health Benefits Of Apples

By Kerri-Ann Jennings, Associate Nutrition Editor for EatingWell Magazine.

My favorite thing about fall in Vermont is rambling through a nearby orchard, picking crisp, juicy apples and crunching into one, fresh off the tree. Yet, apples are so commonplace that they're almost overlooked and pushed aside by flashier superfruits, such as pomegranates and goji berries.

But as a registered dietitian and associate nutrition editor of EatingWell Magazine, I know that apples have surprising nutritional benefits that justify the "apple a day" adage. Here are some of apples' nutritional boons:

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Packing in quite a bit of soluble fiber (4 grams per medium apple) for a modest amount of calories (95) makes apples a filling, sweet snack. Plus, a medium apple counts as 1 cup of fruit, so after eating one you're well on your way to meeting your daily fruit quota (around 2 cups for adults on a 2,000-calorie diet). They also are a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C (providing 14 percent of the daily value). More from EatingWell: Should You Buy Organic Apples? 6 More Foods That Do the Weight-Loss Work for You Top 15 Heart-Healthy Foods

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Packing in quite a bit of soluble fiber (4 grams per medium apple) for a modest amount of calories (95) makes apples a filling, sweet snack.

Plus, a medium apple counts as 1 cup of fruit, so after eating one you're well on your way to meeting your daily fruit quota (around 2 cups for adults on a 2,000-calorie diet).

They also are a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C (providing 14 percent of the daily value).


More from EatingWell:

Should You Buy Organic Apples?
6 More Foods That Do the Weight-Loss Work for You
Top 15 Heart-Healthy Foods

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What's your favorite kind of apple?

Kerri-Ann, a registered dietitian, is the associate editor of nutrition for EatingWell Magazine, where she puts her master's degree in nutrition from Columbia University to work, writing and editing news about nutrition, health and food trends. In her free time, Kerri-Ann likes to practice yoga, hike, bake and paint.

 

Follow EatingWell on Twitter: www.twitter.com/eatingwell

Comments

[Jeanne Long]

11:58 AM on 09/20/2011

I had no idea how great apples were until I took a Holistic Nutrition class. Apples are also very high in Quercetin, a plant derived flavonoid, powerful antioxidant with anti-histamine affects. Quercetin is an important player in synaptic placicity or increased strength of neuron connection in the brain particularly the hippo-campus.(studies done on rats) There still doing research on the effects of Quercetin and memory. So eat an apple and think more clearly, remember more and blow your nose less!!
I have allergies and now I eat an apple every day especially after going for a hike. I think it works! Even if its psychological I'll take it!!

[Pat Bateman2000]

02:08 PM on 09/19/2011

Ironically I was eating a Rome apple and browsing HP when I saw this article. I had a foot injury years ago and put on about 30lbs and used to eat an apple before every meal. I lost it all because you don't eat as much. I don't eat 3 a day anymore as I try to switch it up but love the taste and benefits.

[shirlcare]

09:39 PM on 09/19/2011

Pat...Love what you wrote regarding benefits with apples...but don't like your x-cross...since I am a believer...we have one thing in common though. :)

[IndependentGadfly]

10:53 AM on 09/19/2011

The last time a man listened to a woman regarding apples, we lost the Garden of Eden. So I think I will pass ...

[ExpectAMiracle]

10:35 AM on 09/19/2011

Apples do rule. However, writing an article about the benefits of apples and NOT EVEN MENTIONING polyphenols (a very powerful antioxidant), which are extremely high in apples, is akin to writing the history of great basketball players and not mentioning Michael Jordan.

If Dr. Oz should ever discover how truly ill informed he is, there will be no way of consoling him.

[shirlcare]

09:40 PM on 09/19/2011

This is good! Very thought provoking and true! :)

[Luke Dreckman]

09:48 AM on 09/19/2011

Brought to you by Motts. Apples are the corn and soybeans of the fruit industry. Hyped as good for you but really they are cheap, easy to produce and really not that good for you.

[SDeLight]

09:16 AM on 09/19/2011

This article should do its intended job. Counteract Dr. Oz.

[clytemnestra slays]

09:14 AM on 09/19/2011

is it true abut the arsenic? Dr Oz claims there is arsenic in apples.

[Luke Dreckman]

09:46 AM on 09/19/2011

There is cyanide in the seeds, but it is only released if you crush then and even at that even an avid apple eater could not eat enough to cause any damage.

[Euglena Vorticella]

09:10 AM on 09/19/2011

If only super-market ones tasted OR SMELLED! like the ones from the tree in my childhood backyard.

[digitaldolly]

08:55 AM on 09/19/2011

Honeycrisp apples are without a doubt my absolute favorite apple. Must be a lot of folks' fav apple, because a load just came in recently to my grocery store, and only a few are left! Especially good with a thin slide of aged gouda/Beemster cheese on a Sunday evening with a bowl of popcorn in front of the fire!

[cheli2244]

08:38 AM on 09/19/2011

Apples are beautiful.

[TicTucTo]

08:13 AM on 09/19/2011

I'm mildly allergic to apples. I think I'll pass...

[ProgressiveGuru]

06:17 AM on 09/19/2011

Fuji apple ( my fave )

Developed in Japan, but an all-American cross of Red Delicious and Ralls Janet. A very attractive modern apple, crisp, sweet-flavoured, and keeps well.

you want to learn about apples ~ look here
http://www.orangepippin.com/apples

[Acleacius]

08:23 AM on 09/19/2011

Eating one now, they are so good enough someone needs to create an Apple Diet, so all we ever need to do is eat apples. ;)

[MRb1000]

03:24 AM on 09/19/2011

It is good for you, it is good for you, it is good for you, it is good for you, it is good for you, and it is good for you. We all know what is good for us, but we do not want to eat this stuff! Go figure!

[Ffranco]

02:53 AM on 09/19/2011

When Medicare disappears, if we all eat apples maybe some of us won't die too soon.

[skjn62]

01:21 AM on 09/19/2011

We eat apples on a daily basis at our house. We are fortunate to have an apple orchard near by and love to make weekly trips to pick up our favorite kinds when in season. I love apple and peanut butter and my husband loves sliced apple with cinnamon. Our two granddaughters love sliced apples and whipped cream.