September heralds the start of autumn, and with it comes a bounty of delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables. One of the kings of autumn’s fantastic crops is the apple. From late August onwards there is an abundance of ripe, juicy and sweet apples just ready and waiting to be harvested. However, there are certain foods which really do need to be included in your daily diet – one of which is the apple.
Apples offer an impressive array of health-giving properties, plus they are a quick, healthy and tasty snack option too. So it seems there really is fact behind the old adage, ‘An apple a day keeps a doctor away’. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you too should eat an apple a day.
Apples are little powerhouses of goodness, vitamins, minerals and nutrition, yet surprisingly low in calories at approximately just 100 calories a piece. Apples contain high levels of antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been found to help protect against heart disease, heart attacks and certain cancers. Apples also contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which can improve oxygen flow to your lungs and boost your immune system. And finally, apples contain almost zero fat, only natural sugars, and are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, calcium, iron, sodium and potassium.