The popular phrase “an apple a day…” has its roots in an old Welsh saying that first appeared in print back in 1866. Originally it was “Eat an apple on going to bed and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread!”
Well, it turns out there might be some merit in the saying.
Eating apples regularly is linked to a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. They're packed full of goodies – fibre, vitamins and important chemical compounds called flavonoids.
The good stuff
Flavonoids are concentrated in the skin of apples. They're produced by plants to protect them from stress, sunlight and disease. Amazingly, by eating these plants, you can acquire similar protective effects!
One of the ways that scientists think flavonoids can have a beneficial effect on our bodies is by increasing the production of an amazing molecule called nitric oxide. It can regulate blood pressure, maintain blood vessel health, and have a number of beneficial effects on your body.
A hearty apple?
In Just One Thing, Dr Catherine Bondonno from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia discusses her research into apples. Her work has revealed that eating apples – specifically with the skin on, where the flavonoids are concentrated – could help reduce blood pressure and improve blood vessel health within a few hours of intake.
Researchers from the University of Reading have also demonstrated that eating apples daily could have an impact on cholesterol levels. They asked participants with slightly high blood cholesterol to eat two apples every day for eight weeks and found that this helped lower their cholesterol to healthier levels. Drinking the juice did not have the same effect.
You should eat the whole apple for the most benefit: our bodies need both the flavonoids in the skin and the fibre in the flesh – and here’s why…
