I’m an apple-lovin’ Mom to a bunch of apple-lovin’ kids!
One of the most popular quotations of the 19th Century was, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Thousands of people everywhere used to recognize the health benefits of the apple in an age where there were no food pyramids, fad diets or nutritionists.
Apples are very easy on the digestive system; their high fiber content adds bulk that aids the digestive process making for a smooth elimination process . Another great thing about the apple is that it contains pectin, a form of soluble fiber that encourages the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract. This also helps lead to a healthier colon! A medium apple has only 81 calories and a whopping 3.7 grams of fiber. It supplies 159 mg of potassium, 3.9 mcg of folic acid, 7.9 mg of vitamin C, and 9.6 mg of calcium! Apples also contain flavonoids and antioxidants that improve your immune system and help prevent heart disease and some cancers.
Today, medical practitioners are beginning to recognize that the apple’s abundant quantity of pectin is an aid in reducing high cholesterol, as well as blood sugar, making it a “wonder food” for people with coronary artery disease and diabetes.
If these aren’t enough reasons to eat “an apple a day,” there’s more! Check out the following links I dug up with some fascinating facts!
All About Apples
Pick Your Own
People across the United States and all around the world love apples! And my kiddos are definitely included among the apple mongers. We recently went berry picking here in New York, and we passed by the apple orchards. My kids went nuts! Remember, we are from Florida, the land of flat and dry, where nothing grows but citrus. We discovered that apples grow particularly well in the cooler northern states. Washington State is the leading apple-producing state (Go, Admin Lynette!), followed by Michigan (Yeah, Auntie Nora!), and New York; where we dwell now. (Yeah, baby we rock!) We were so amazed by the smell and beauty of the trees, we wanted to go right that minute! We can hardly wait to go pick apples this fall!
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