An apple a day keeps the doctor away! As a Naturopathic Doctor, I would much rather my patients do and eat things than just pop pills, whether they're natural supplements or not. This means that I have to focus on what people eat as part of my treatment plans. My patients all know that I believe in moderation and just try my best to eat a healthy diet, with the addition of things like pizza the odd time. I also try to eat seasonally as much as possible, largely because seasonal produce in Ontario is so delicious.
Fall to me means apple season. I will overdose on apples in the coming months when I can go apple picking near Toronto and get them fresh off the tree. Apples are such amazing fruits, and I wanted to share some of the health benefits of eating apples.
- Apples lower cholesterol. Apples contain about 4 grams of fibre, partly in the form of pectin which can help lower bad cholesterol.
- Apples can help lung function and help reduce the risk of lung cancer. They contain an antioxidant called quercitin that can help manage allergies and can also help lung function overall.
- Apples may help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Studies showed that those eating apples, blueberries, pears, and grapes had a slightly lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Apples may reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. We think this is due to the flavenoid content found in apples.
If this isn't enough reason to eat apples, just do it because they're delicious! As I said, I will eat my weight in apples in the coming months and I hope you enjoy some too.
