Contents
Apples are undoubtedly the most popular fruit in our country. They are not only delicious, but also very healthy. Many of us are unaware of their pro-health properties. They will help us not only in losing extra pounds, but also, for example, improve our immunity. Learn the interesting facts about apples. Most of us use them almost every day. So why is it worth eating apples?
- You can buy apples in Poland at any time of the year
- Their size, color and taste depend on the variety, but regardless of the type of apple, they have a huge crowd of supporters
- Apples are recommended for people who want to lose weight
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Apple – characteristics
Apples are simply the fruit of the apple tree. They have a characteristic spherical shape, and their flesh depends on their type (some may be hard, while others may be soft). The flesh itself is hidden under a hard skin, which can be eaten with the whole fruit or, if we do not like, simply in the world, throw it away.
In addition, each apple has a stone called an apple core. If we want to strengthen our immunity, it is worth reaching for apples, especially in autumn and winter, when we are most exposed to infections.
Apples – properties
Apples are also rich in vitamins. They contain, for example, vitamin C, which will help strengthen our immunity and delay the aging of the body. Pregnant women should also remember to eat apples, as it is also a source of folic acid.
In apples, we also find vitamin A that improves eyesight and vitamin K, which will positively affect blood clotting. Thanks to the potassium content, apples will improve the work of the heart and help to control fluctuations in blood pressure. In addition, by eating apples, we will also provide calcium, phosphorus and magnesium that soothes nerves.
Young mothers can safely serve grated apples even to a few months old children. Apples will certainly not sensitize a child, and in addition they will prevent anemia thanks to the iron content.
People who are slimming often eat apples in the evening instead of dinner. Unfortunately, this is not a good solution. There are many simple sugars in apples that are not worth consuming at night. The supplied sugar will then not be fully utilized as the metabolism slows down in the evening. As a result, the consumed sugar will be deposited in adipose tissue. In addition, high glucose levels will make it harder for us to fall asleep.
It is also worth mentioning that apples are also a source of pectins that cleanse the body of toxins. Thanks to digestive processes, or rather thanks to fiber, which binds some heavy metals (e.g. cobalt and lead) into insoluble salts, compounds are excreted from our body.
All this means that eating apples should be considered by people living in large cities, industrial centers, smokers or people who, due to their profession, are constantly exposed to toxic substances, e.g. printers. However, the pectins themselves are also responsible for the proper growth of the bacterial flora. Thanks to them, after eating only one apple, we can cleanse our intestines of undigested remnants, and also prevent the occurrence of digestive system diseases, including cancer.
Other properties of apples also include relieving the symptoms of heartburn and eliminating bad breath. If, in turn, we drink apple cider vinegar regularly and in small amounts, we will stop the development of infection, and thanks to the potassium content, we will additionally support digestion.
Potassium can also help us in the fight against the accumulation of cholesterol. Therefore, when we eat apples, we protect ourselves against the development of arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and, consequently, also against heart attack and stroke.
Apples can also be an ingredient in cosmetics. This is the case with the nourishing Green Laboratory body butter, which also has lavender as an active ingredient. The product is available on Medonet Market.
Check also: 10 healthy snacks that will give you fun on your diet
Apple – slimming
Regardless of the variety, apples are low in calories, and one medium apple contains about 90 calories. Therefore, no one should be surprised that apples are recommended for weight loss. There are diets that are only based on apples. Their task is to quickly lose unwanted kilograms and cleanse our body of toxins and improve metabolism.
However, it should be remembered that usually such restrictive diets end up with a quick yo-yo effect and a return to old habits. Our body almost immediately demands other foods, such as fatty meat or sweets full of sugar. So let’s avoid a diet consisting only of apples.
See also: The enemies of weight loss – seemingly healthy caloric bombs
Apple – diabetes prevention
The pectin contained in apples also regulates blood sugar levels. In addition, apples are known for their low glycemic index, and are very suitable as a snack between meals. People struggling with diabetes should pay attention especially to the acidic varieties of apples with hard and crunchy flesh.
Interestingly, apples are also a source of quercetin, thanks to which the risk of the so-called diabetic cataracts. However, it should be borne in mind that quercetin is only found in raw apples, not those made into juices or preserves.
Find out more: Diabetic diet – menu and recipes in type 1 and 2 diabetes
Apples – fiber
In each apple we find large amounts of fiber, which is what supports our fight against excess weight. Thanks to fiber, apples quickly give us a feeling of fullness, and we feel full and we look for snacks less often.
If we want the right amount of fiber in our diet, eat apples with the skin, because it contains the most of this ingredient. Thanks to this, we will not only lose weight, but also avoid constipation and improve the functioning of the intestines. By eating apples regularly, we can even avoid colon cancer, heart attacks and atherosclerosis. The action of apples can be compared to some heart medications.
However, remember to wash the apple and its skin well before eating it. It is especially important if you have very shiny apples, because of waxing them. This is done to make them look better on store shelves.
Apple – influence on the work of the brain
According to animal studies, apples show properties that protect the brain from cell damage that affects memory loss. Studies in mice have shown that concentrated apple juice added to the animals’ food prevents oxidation of brain tissue components and impairment of cognitive abilities.
Currently, you can buy 400% concentrated Natjun apple juice on Medonet Market at a promotional price.
Also check: Eating vegetables and fruits gives you a feeling of well-being
Apples – apple juice
When it comes to juices, it is very important what quality apple juice we are going to consume. The most accessible ones are usually filtered and therefore low in nutrients. If we are to drink this type of juice, it would be much better for our health if we had already eaten the whole fruit. However, if we are insistent on juice, choose one that is naturally cloudy and unfiltered, which will ensure that it contains procyanidins.
100% apple juice is offered by Szczepanówka, which focuses on high-quality production. Based on apples, it also produces sourdough, e.g. apple sourdough itself or apple sourdough with sea buckthorn.
Apple juice has also been used in cosmetics. It moisturizes and gives shine on the hair, which was appreciated by the Zielone Laboratorium company by placing it in a reconstructing hair mask with mint, apple and grain extract. You can order the product on Medonet Market.
we recommend: Seven healthy foods that can be poisonous
Apple – varieties
There are many thousands of apple varieties all over the world. They differ in color, hardness, shape and taste. There are over a dozen varieties of these delicious fruits available on the Polish market:
- Gala
These apples come from New Zealand and are the result of crossing the Golden Delicious and Orange Red varieties. They have a characteristic, conical shape, which is why they can sometimes be oblong. Their skin is orange-red and smooth. These apples are not too big and are crunchy and juicy in taste. Moments after harvesting, you can smell a slight scent of vanilla from them.
- Paper pulp
This apple variety comes from the Baltic Sea. It is characterized by a color that is pale pink at first, green after some time and light yellow at the end. The taste is slightly sour and juicy. This variety is also characterized by a short shelf life and it is relatively rare to buy it in large supermarkets.
- Ligol
These apples come from Poland and were created as a result of crossing the Linda and Golden Delicious varieties. Their shape is reminiscent of the Gala variety, and their skin is greenish and hard. It is characterized by a blush that covers a small part of the apple, which is quite large in itself, and its flesh is specific, because it tastes sweet and sour, and at the same time juicy and tender.
- Golden Delicious
This apple, in turn, comes from America and is one of the most popular types of apples in the world. This variety is characterized by a light green and shiny skin with a very weak, almost invisible blush. The shape of the apple is spherical-conical, and sometimes there are distinct ribs. The flesh is creamy yellow, juicy and intensely sweet.
- Gloster
This apple variety comes from Germany. It is characterized by a greenish-yellow, shiny skin with a dark red blush. The apples themselves reach large sizes, and their shape is conical. They are sweet in taste, and their flesh is juicy, soft and fine-grained.
- Antonówka
This apple is popular all over the world and it’s hard to say where it comes from, although Our Country is the most talked about. This variety is characterized by variations in shape and size, but usually antonówka is spherical and rather small. They are quite sour in taste, and their flesh is crisp and very juicy. The skin is green at first and then yellowish. When they ripen, you can smell a delicate citrus scent from them.
- Champion
This apple variety comes from the Czech Republic. It is characterized by a spherical-conical shape with slight ribs. The skin of this apple is green-yellow or completely yellow and smooth with a huge blush. The taste is sweet and sour and soft with a creamy flesh. Interestingly, this variety, despite its long shelf life, becomes less and less tasty with time.
- Costela
Apples of this variety come from Poland. They are spherical in shape, and at first their color is green, then yellowish, and finally golden. They taste very sweet and juicy, and their flesh is soft. Interestingly, apples of this variety are not suitable for making preserves and are recommended to be eaten raw.
Apple – the effect of pesticides
When writing about apples, one cannot fail to mention the process of their protection, i.e. splashing. Apples that we can find in stores are just sprinkled and many of them contain an average of 42 insecticide residues. You should know that as many as 7 of them are suspected of influencing the development of cancer, another 20 affect the endocrine system, about 10 of them are neurotoxins, and 6 may have a negative effect on fertility.
Before we buy an apple, we should think about their source in advance, maybe it will be a good choice to buy organic apples or apples from our own orchard. If we want to make sure that the apple is “healthy”, we will look at it carefully, because worms live only on unsprayed apples.
Worth knowing: Pesticides in fruits and vegetables can be dangerous for children
Apple – fruit for everyone?
As many things in excess, apples in large amounts can harm us. This should be borne in mind in particular by people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. This is due to the presence of simple sugars in apples, i.e. fructose and polyols, which can irritate the stomach walls, which may result in diarrhea, pain and constipation.
This does not mean that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome must completely give up eating apples, because it is enough for them to keep an eye on the permissible daily dose, which is a quarter of this fruit. Interestingly, the situation is completely different with apple cider vinegar, which does not harm people with irritable bowel syndrome and can even help them.
If we are already at apple cider vinegar, it should be added that despite the fact that the daily dose of this liquid in the form of: two teaspoons of vinegar, two teaspoons of honey together with half a glass of boiled water can inhibit the development of infection and improve digestion, people with peptic ulcer disease are not advised to drink it.
Apple – use in the kitchen
Apples have many uses in the kitchen. They are made of desserts, preserves and even main courses. You can eat them as a snack, just cut them into pieces and add them to plain yogurt with a pinch of cinnamon. Apples, however, do not have to be served only sweet, they are an equally good addition to meats, such as roasted duck or turkey, and honey and spices.
They can be successfully used as an addition to salads as part of a dinner (carrot salad or sauerkraut with apples). You can also make jams or juices full of vitamins from apples. Speaking of the use of apples in the kitchen, one cannot forget about probably the most popular cake in the world – apple pie. Speaking of desserts, we should also mention apples sprinkled with cinnamon and dipped in hot caramel, so popular at home parties. Apples can also be grated and added as a stuffing to pancakes or pancakes.
Additionally, apples are used to produce several types of alcohol, including:
- Cider, which is a weak dry wine made of apples, popular in France. Cider is known all over the world, and most of this drink is produced in Brittany and Normandy, but also in England, Germany and Spain. Sweet and sparkling ciders are known;
- Calvados, i.e. cider distillate, French natural vodka, which is also produced by Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States;
- Apple aperitif, which is a drink made of cider and calvados produced in Normandy.
Apples – recipes
Recipes from apples – apple pie
Ingredients: 1,5 to 2 kg of apples, 250 g of butter, 400 g of wheat flour, 4 egg yolks, white sugar, vanilla sugar, cinnamon, a teaspoon of baking powder.
Preparation: We start making apple pie by sifting the flour and baking powder and adding less than a glass of white sugar, one package of vanilla sugar, butter and egg yolk. All the ingredients are mixed and kneaded until the dough is made, which, in turn, are divided into two parts, then wrapped in foil and put in the freezer for about half an hour.
When the cakes are in the freezer, we start peeling and dicing the apples and frying them with vanilla sugar and cinnamon. In the next step we have to take out the dough and roll it out. Then, place one part of the dough in a baking tin, put apples in the middle and cover everything with a second layer of dough.
Put the prepared dough in the oven for an hour and bake it at 175 degrees Celsius. After removing the dough, you can additionally sprinkle with powdered sugar or almond flakes.
Recipes from apples – apple cider
Ingredients: 15 kg of apples (40% sour apples and 60% sweet apples), specialist yeast, yeast medium.
Preparation: We start by slicing the apples, remembering not to peel them, and squeeze the juice out of them with a juicer. The juice squeezed out in this way should be poured into a balloon (a glass vessel in which wine is usually made) and the multiplied yeast and nutrient solution should be added.
Now the fermentation process will start and it should take place at a temperature between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius. This process will take about two weeks and after this time, drain the liquid from the juice sediment and leave it in a cool place for another period of 2 to 3 weeks. After this time, the finished cider can be poured into smaller bottles and drunk.
Recipes from apples – apple cider vinegar
Ingredients: apples, a spoonful of sugar, water.
Preparation: At the very beginning, we need to cut the apples and pour boiled water over them. Remember, however, that you should sprinkle one teaspoon of sugar on one glass of water. We put everything aside in a warm place for about four weeks. When the fermentation process is over, the vinegar must be strained through cheesecloth.
Content from the site medTvoiLokony they are intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and his doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.