An Apple A Day Really Works: It's Nature’s Health Food!

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We’ve all heard the expression, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” And of course apples aren’t all that you need for good nutrition, but the fact remains that the expression has some merit: apples really are one of nature’s healthiest foods!

(And remember that Bliss Shurfine Food Mart in Manchester NY always has a great selection of apples from which to choose! There are hundreds of varieties of apples on the market today, and yet most people have only tasted one or two. Maybe you should try a new variety today!)

Really, what’s not to like? Apples are delicious. You can package them or take them along whole to snack on throughout the day. They’re low in calories but high in nutrition. They will remove other food particles from your mouth and freshen your breath. And they’re one of the least expensive fresh foods available!

Try and eat apples with their skin on—after scrubbing them, of course. Nearly half of the Vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases insoluble fiber content.

(Here’s the scoop on fiber: Soluble fiber (pectin) reduces the incidence of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Insoluble fiber provides bulk in the intestinal tract, holding water to cleanse and move food quickly through the digestive system. And both of these fibers are present in apples!)

Again, what’s not to like? Here are five great reasons to eat an apple every day:

  1. Your diet will thank you: Apples are the perfect, portable snack: great tasting, energy-boosting, and free of fat.
  2. Your heart will thank you: The antioxidant phytonutrients found in apples help fight the damaging effects of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
  3. Your digestion will thank you: Just one apple provides as much dietary fiber as a serving of bran cereal. Your lungs will thank you: An apple a day strengthens lung function and can lower the incidence of lung cancer, as well.
  4. Your bones will thank you: Apples contain the essential trace element, boron, which has been shown to strengthen bones (a good defense against osteoporosis).

Want to learn more? Bliss Shurfine Food Mart in Manchester NY has a produce department bursting with apples, and our produce experts are here to answer your questions. Why not come by and try something different today? Just remember: the research is in—an apple a day really does keep the doctor away!