An Apple A Day

Fall is prime season for apples.  Anything in season tastes significantly better than its grocery store, unripe, out of season counterpart.  With that in mind, autumn is the best time of the year to pig out on apples.

Apples not only taste good but are remarkably good for you.  They are high in fiber and contain an array of antioxidants.  However, make sure to eat the skin because that’s where the majority of the antioxidants lie.  Apples also contain a substantial amount of flavonoids, which have been shown to regulate blood pressure and decrease the risk of heart disease.

A study taken of 10,000 people showed that those who ate the most apples had a 50% lower risk of developing lung cancer.  Flavonoids are believed to promote healthy lungs.  Studies have also shown that apples decrease the risk of asthma.

Out of a list of common apples consumed in the U.S., Fuji apples are shown to have the highest amounts of flavonoids, as well as high antioxidant levels.  With cold and flu season on its way, while apples aren’t rated in the top 5 fruits for vitamin C levels, its important to note that they do contain a significant amount of the immune-boosting vitamin.

Apples make a delicious and healthy grab-and-go snack.  The fiber will keep you full, while the mere 80 calories and 0 grams of fat a typical medium-sized apple contains will keep that tummy in tact.

Not sure which apple to choose among the colorful display at your local farmers market?  With about 2500 varieties grown in the U.S., knowing which one to choose can be tough.  It really depends on how you plan on using the apples.  Different varieties are better for different reasons, such as baking vs. snacking.

The average American eats 65 apples a year…I’m almost 100% sure I top that number.  Here are a few of my favorite snacking varieties (in no particular order):

• Honeycrisp–  Crisp, juicy, sweet
• Fuji–  Crisp, juicy, and mildly sweet
• Jonagold–  Juicy, crisp, and mildly sweet
• McIntosh–  Exceptionally soft, juicy, and sweet
• Gala–  Firm and sweet
• Yellow Delicious–  Soft and sweet