Benefits of Eating an Apple a Day
There are some foods that should form a regular part of your diet. Many fruits fall into this category because they contain essential nutrients that are needed for bodily functions to work properly. In this article, we’ll tell you some of the benefits of eating an apple a day!
Firstly, apples contain a lot of water, which makes them great for keeping you hydrated and refreshed during the warmer months. But, there are many more benefits besides. Read on to find out more!
Eating an apple a day helps your intestinal health
Apples contain a particularly important fiber called pectin. This substance has been shown to be capable of fermenting in the intestines, which is beneficial for the intestinal microbiota.
This claim is supported by research published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. Furthermore, maintaining healthy intestinal flora is linked to a reduced risk of complex conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases.
The pectins that apples contain are a type of soluble fiber. Another type of fiber is known as insoluble fiber, and this can be found in cereals. Insoluble fibers turn out to be good for your gastrointestinal health as well, so it’s a good idea to regularly eat both apples and cereals.
An apple a day keeps you feeling full
Another benefit of soluble fiber is that it stops you from feeling hungry. According to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consuming soluble fiber significantly reduces your appetite by stimulating the distension receptors in the stomach.
By making you feel less hungry, this also makes it easier to lose weight as you’ll eat less than before. So, eating an apple a day can also be a great way of making sure that you don’t eat more food than you need.
Apples contain antioxidants which help prevent illnesses
Just with many other fruits, apples contain certain antioxidants. These nutrients help to prevent complex illnesses and metabolic problems.
Although there are foods that contain more antioxidants than apples do, apples do contain quite a lot – just another reason to eat an apple a day.
However, if you want to boost the effect of these antioxidants, we recommend that you sprinkle some cinnamon over your apple. According to a review in Pharmacognosy Research, cinnamon helps to modulate inflammation and can reduce the risk of certain metabolic problems, such as type-2 diabetes.
Furthermore, regularly consuming cinnamon prevents insulin resistance and helps better control your blood sugar levels. It also goes great with pretty much any fruit and even with yogurts.
Apples are healthy!
As you can see, apples really are very healthy. It’s a good idea to eat one a day and, this way, you’ll be able to selectively regulate the growth of microbiota and keep your bodily functions working properly.
At the same time, apples are really good for keeping you hydrated, which can be particularly important in summer. Older people, in particular, are more susceptible to dehydration, so apples are especially recommended!
And we can’t forget the antioxidants. Although many other fruits contain more phytonutrients and flavonoids, apples still contain a significant amount of substances that help to reduce and control oxidation.
These substances help to fight against free radicals, which aren’t so good for your health. Furthermore, combining apples with spices, such as cinnamon, can boost the effect of these antioxidants.
And finally, apples are really versatile! You can eat them on their own, in a salad, or as an ingredient in a dessert. Prepare them exactly as you like, just try to avoid adding sugar!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Bianchi F., Larsen N., Tieghi TM., Adorno MA., et al., Modulation of gut microbiota form obese individuals by in vitro fermentation of citrus pectin in combination with bifidobacterium longum BB-46. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2018. 102 (20): 8827-8840.
- Warrilow A., Mellor D., McKune A., Pumpa K., Dietary fat, fibre, satiation, and satiety a systematic reivew of acute studies. Eur J Clin Nutr, 2019. 73 (3): 333-344.
- Kawatra, P., & Rajagopalan, R. (2015). Cinnamon: Mystic powers of a minute ingredient. Pharmacognosy research, 7(Suppl 1), S1–S6. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8490.157990