Health Benefits Of Apples

Health Benefits Of Apples

Mentioned below are the best health benefits of apples that actually help you in keeping the doctor away:

Aid in Digestion

Apples, being rich in fiber, help in the digestive process. Regular consumption of apples ensures smooth bowel movements and the prevention of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other stomach disorders. Fiber also stimulates the release of gastric and digestive juices to ensure efficient uptake of nutrients, while simultaneously scraping excess cholesterol out of your veins and arteries to ensure proper heart health and reduce the chances of atherosclerosis.

Prevent Cancer

Apples have shown moderate improvement in treating various types of cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer. However, the most significant discoveries have been regarding lung cancer. Apples show a distinct and undeniable capacity to reduce lung cancer and slow its spread if it does develop. Hypotheses usually speak about the high phytonutrient content, including kaempferol and quercetin, but the exact mechanism for apples’ impact on cancer is still to be known.

Prebiotic Effects

Apples contain pectin which is a type of fiber that acts like a probiotic. It specifically helps to improve the functioning of the bacteria living in our large intestine. Apples stimulate metabolism within the digestive tract and promote good bacteria in the gut. This prebiotic effect leads to an improved health by maximizing nutrient uptake and eliminating harmful bacteria and toxins.

Reduce Strokes

Studies have shown that regular apple intake reduces the risk of thrombotic strokes in both men and women.

Treat Anemia

Apples are useful in treating anemia since they are a rich source of iron. By increasing the number of red blood cells in the body, apples not only prevent anemia but also ensure a proper oxygenation of essential organ systems. This results in enhanced blood circulation and proper functioning of the organ systems.

Boost Immune System

Apples rich in vitamin C, antioxidant compounds and protein can have a major role in preventing weakness, boosting immunity, and improving muscle tone. If you want to gain weight, apples should be a part of your daily diet. They also help in detoxifying the body and improving the overall health.

Control Diabetes

Blood sugar control is essential for people who suffer from diabetes and the polyphenols in apples have been directly linked to reducing the uptake of carbohydrates by the body. This, in turn, reduces the fluctuation of blood sugar levels that occur in the bloodstream, an important factor for keeping diabetes in check. The polyphenols also lower glucose absorption in our digestive tract and stimulate the release of insulin from our pancreas, which is also necessary to keep the blood sugar levels in check. Finally, the polyphenols stimulate the insulin receptors on cells throughout our body, which speeds up the removal of sugar from our bloodstream and gets it to our cells for metabolism and proper organ function.

̣(Why is fructose considered a reducing sugar? 

Sugars that contain aldehyde groups that are oxidised to carboxylic acids are classified as reducing sugars.
• Common test reagents are :
◦ Benedicts reagent (CuSO4 / citrate)
◦ Fehlings reagent (CuSO4 / tartrate)
• They are classified as reducing sugars since they reduce the Cu2+ to Cu+  which forms as a red precipitate, copper (I) oxide.

Fructose is a reducing sugar. Even though the C=O group of fructose is at C2, at high pH the C=O rearranges to C1; this is the Lobry de Bruyn-van Eckenstein re-arrangement. It's catalyzed by a base removing the α-proton to form the enediol. This can then rearrange to yield fructose or re-capture the proton to yield glucose + mannose. )

Dental Care

Eating apple helps in cleaning both, the teeth and gums. When you eat apples, the fiber in them cleanses the teeth, while the antibacterial properties of this fruit keep bacteria and viruses from infecting the body. Apples also stimulate the secretion of saliva (an alkaline compound).which reduces the ability of bacteria to multiply and grow in your mouth.

Prevent Alzheimer’s

The antioxidant effects of all the phytonutrient compounds in apples certainly help to reduce Alzheimer’s diseases, since the degeneration of the brain that leads to Alzheimer’s has been linked to free radical activity. In terms of Parkinson’s, apples stop the gradual breakdown of dopamine-producing nerve cells, which can be an underlying cause of the disease.

Boost Brain Health

Apples increase the amount of acetylcholine in the brain, which is linked to improving concentration, problem-solving, and memory.

Treat Asthma

Apples have shown tremendous anti-inflammatory behavior and in terms of asthma, they have stood out among other natural treatments. Quercetin, a flavonoid present in the apple skin helps reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.

Prevent Heart Diseases

Apples help lower the risk of heart stroke and various other heart ailments. The antioxidant property of apples reduces the oxidation of fats, called lipid peroxidation. It also neutralizes various fats found in blood vessels that can exert dangerous pressure. The flavonoid quercetin reduces inflammation in our blood vessels. The polyphenol epicatechin also lowers the blood pressure in the body.

Lower Cholesterol

The soluble fiber present in apples helps to lower the level [16] of cholesterol in the body, making it a strong defensive mechanism against cardiovascular diseases. Eating apples every day results in 23% decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and 4% increase in HDL (good) cholesterol in just six months.

Improve Bone Health

Compounds like kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin present in apple have been linked to reducing inflammatory conditions like arthritis and gout. Thus, people suffering from rheumatism find apples very useful as they aid in the healing process.

Improve Vision

Apples help to prevent conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. They also make the eyes stronger and improve eyesight and help in treating night blindness. Apples are rich in flavonoid compounds and antioxidant phytonutrients, which reduce the impact of free radicals on the eyes and prevent the various issues.

Weight Loss

The water and fiber in apples make us feel and increase satiety, thereby reducing appetite and overeating. Apples actually speed up metabolism so that the additional calories consumed after eating an apple don’t register in our body. Meaning, they are burned off quicker, or not absorbed by the body at all. can be a great news for millions of people struggling with obesity.

Skin Care

The powerful antioxidants in apples counteract the damaging effects of free radicals, which are directly linked to premature aging, wrinkles, age spots, and other age-related conditions.

Apples also increase circulation which keeps the skin looking young and toned. They stimulate the replacement of old cells, repair of the damaged ones, and prevention of acne. Pastes made of apple and honey or apple and milk increase the shine and glow of the skin when topically applied.

Protect From NSAIDs

Catechin and chlorogenic acid found in apples help protect the stomach lining from injury due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are a class of painkillers which may injure the stomach cells.

Prevent Gallstones

The rich source of pectin in apples helps in controlling excess cholesterol in the body, solidification of which results in gallstones.

Rich Source of Vitamin C

One large apple provides approximately 11% (for men) and 14% (for women) of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. This essential vitamin helps increase the immunity against infections and diseases. The ascorbic acid reserves found in apple helps in collagen formation which provides a range of benefits for the skin.

Treat Hemorrhoids

The abundant fiber in apples helps in preventing constipation and straining too much pressure during excretion. Thus, they help alleviate hemorrhoids.