Apples have been cultivated as far back as 6,000 B.C. The conquering Roman armies planted apple trees wherever they traveled. Apples have played a crucial role in Biblical stories, myth, culture and tall tales the world over for centuries. Don’t just think Johnny Appleseed; think Greek mythology.
The American proverb is “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The original proverb: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread” originated in 1866. And that’s not the first time apples were mentioned in regards to their medicinal properties. According to Chinese medicine, apples strengthen the heart, quench thirst, lubricate the lungs, decrease mucous and increase body fluids.
15 reasons why apples are a super food
- The contributions that apples make to a healthy diet are wide and varied. Here’s why you should make shouldn’t be eating one a day; you should be eating two!
- Apples have about 5 grams of soluble fiber, which has a variety of health benefits, including
- Reducing intestinal disorders, including diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and possibly some types of cancer
- Reducing cholesterol levels, which is good for the heart
- Helping control insulin levels by releasing sugar slowly into the bloodstream
- Cleansing and detoxifying, which helps eliminate heavy metals such as lead and mercury
- The pectin in apples helps to reduce cholesterol levels by lowering insulin secretion
- Research has shown that eating five apples a week lowered the risk of respiratory diseases, including asthma
- Eating an apple shields your teeth from decay-causing bacteria, earning it the nickname “nature’s toothbrush”
- Studies indicate that eating apples daily can reduce skin diseases
- Apples help you feel full. According to a Brazilian study, women who eat an apple before a meal helped them lose 33% more weight than those who didn’t
- Depending upon its size, an apple contains between 50 and 80 calories and has no fat or sodium
- The skin of the apple contains 10% of your daily allowance of vitamin C. They are also packed with vitamin A and flavonoids and have smaller amounts of phosphorus, iron and calcium
- Apples are a good source of potassium, which may promote heart health
- Crunchy and delicious, apples are a satisfying snack that can curb hunger pangs
Interesting apple trivia:
There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide and 2,500 in America.
Apples are grown in all 50 states, but are grown commercially in 36 states.
World’s top apple producers are China, United States, Turkey, Poland and Italy.
The average U.S. consumer eats about 19 pounds of fresh apples a year.
The apple tree is a member of the rose family.
25% of an apple’s volume is air, which is why they float when bobbing for apples.
In ancient Greece, when a man proposed to a woman he would toss her an apple; if she caught it, it meant she accepted the proposal.
Apples contain about 5% protein.
Apple trees start to produce fruit in their fifth year and can live to be 100 years old.
The largest apple weighed three pounds.
One apple requires 50 leaves to feed it and help it grow.
