Discover 15 Health Benefits Of Apples

The delicious apple is a crunchy treat any day. It is also
packed with numerous health benefits. Here are a few
of them:
1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and
chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in
your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels
of bacteria.
2. Avoid Alzheimer’s
A new study performed on mice shows that drinking
apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the
effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that
were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels
of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in
maze tests than those on a regular diet.
3. Protect against Parkinson’s
Research has shown that people who eat fruits and
other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of
protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized
by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing
nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free
radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained
therein.
4. Curb all sorts of cancers
Scientists from the American Association for Cancer
Research, among others, agree that the consumption of
flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of
developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent.
Researchers at Cornell University have identified
several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that
have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells
in the liver, colon and chest. Their earlier research
found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the
number and size of mammary tumours in rats.
Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has
recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of
colorectal cancer.
5. Decrease your risk of diabetes
People who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent
less likely to develop  type 2 diabetes than those who
don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre,
the key to blunting blood sugar swings.
6. Reduce cholesterol
The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the
intestine, which translates into lower cholesterol levels
and a healthier you.
7. Get a healthier heart
An extensive body of research has linked high soluble
fibre intake with a slower build-up of cholesterol-rich
plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in
apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into
your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When
plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow
to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.
8. Prevent gallstones
Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in
your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They
are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent
gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to
help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.
9. Beat diarrhoea and constipation
Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t
stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull
water out of your colon to keep things moving along
when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from
your stool to slow your bowels down.
10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by
constipation, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain and
bloating. To control these symptoms doctors
recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods
while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.
11. Avert haemorrhoids
Haemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the an*l canal and
while not life threatening, these veins can be very
painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the
pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling
constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too
much when going to the bathroom and thereby help
alleviate haemorrhoids.
12. Control your weight
Many health problems are associated with being
overweight, among them heart disease, stroke, high
blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To
manage your weight and improve your overall health,
doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in
fibre will fill you up without costing you too many
calories.
13. Detoxify your liver
We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from
drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing
these toxins out of your body. Luckily, one of the best—
and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify your
liver is fruits—like apples.
14. Boost your immune system
Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin.
Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost
and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re
stressed out.
15. Prevent cataracts
Though past studies have been divided on the issue,
recent long-term studies suggest that people who have
a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—like apples
—are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.