Remember the old saying “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away?” Well, whoever coined that phrase knew what they were talking about. Apples are the number one snack in the world. The most popular apple is the Red Delicious. Washington State grows the most apples, but there are over 35 other states that also grow apples commercially. And a single apple tree can bear over 800 pounds of apples in a year!

Most apples are eaten raw, but many are made into pies, jellies, apple sauce, apple butter, apple juice, apple cider, and cider vinegar.

One medium apple provides 5 grams of dietary fiber, or 20 percent of the recommended intake of fiber. The fiber in apples is a soluble fiber called pectin. Pectin has been shown to be a great cholesterol reducer. Research shows that pectin improves the good cholesterol, or LDL, in cholesterol prone hamsters.

Apples are rich in naturally occurring phytochemicals or flavonoids, compounds that have antioxidant properties. Flavonoids are believed to reduce the rate of oxidation of harmful low-density lipoproteins in the blood, thereby inhibiting the growth of dangerous plaque along the walls of the blood vessels. Research suggests that flavonoid rich diets protect against heart attacks and strokes. Flavonoids can also be a factor in certain kinds of cancers.

Apples also contain the antioxidant quercitrin. It is believed that quercitrin may protect the lungs from pollution and cigarette smoke. The antioxidant activity in apples compares favorably with other fruits and vegetables. So biting into a crisp, juicy apple is not only a taste treat, but a health boost as well!