An
Apple a Day...
Studies being
conducted on the effect apples may have on health are
in their preliminary stages but the results are
already showing that apples may play an important role
in the reduction of risk of heart disease and some
types of cancer.
Apples have
antioxidants, are fat free, cholesterol free, high in
potassium and are a good source of dietary fiber in
the form of pectin which is a soluble fiber that
contributes to keeping your heart healthy.
So you can see that an
apple a day is an important part of your dietary
routine. It’s easy to eat and doesn’t require any
preparation except perhaps a good wash before eating.
Some interesting
facts
- Apples are a member
of the rose family
- There are more than
7000 varieties of apples grown around the world.
- Approximately 2500
varieties of apple are grown in the US.
UK is the only country in the world that grows
apples specifically for cooking.
- A medium apple has
only 70 calories and over 10% of the daily vitamin
C requirement
- A medium sized
apple contains approximately ½ cup of water so
it’s a quick and easy thirst quencher
- Around 60% of all
apples grown in America are eaten as fruit; the
remainder is turned into apple products like cider
and juice.
Some common apple
varieties
- Red Delicious –
this is one of the most popular apples in the US
today however with its many changes it is now
considered to be bland and unappetizing compared
to other varieties.
- Golden Delicious
– has a sweet, mild flavor and is excellent for
both eating and baking.
- McIntosh – is
quite a juicy apple with a tangy sweet flavor
which makes it an excellent choice for eating. It
is also suitable for sauces, pies and in salads.
- Braeburn – has a
sweet tangy flavor and is suitable for eating and
cooking. It is excellent for apple sauce and
salads.
- Gala – is a
crisp, juicy apple with a mild sweet flavor and is
a great eating variety but also suitable for
cooking.
- Fuji – this
variety of apple is quite sweet making it an
excellent eating apple. It is also suitable for
apple sauce as it does not require much
sweetening.
- Granny Smith –
are a very tangy crisp apple that many find too
tart for eating. It is however excellent for
cooking.
A Bit of History
Apples have been
cultivated for thousands of years and are not only
mentioned in the bible but also in Greek Mythology.
The apple in Christianity is the fruit that Eve ate
from the Tree of Knowledge and resulted in both Adam
and Eve being banished from the Garden of Eden.
And of course we all
know the tale of Johnny Appleseed, a nurseryman who
provided apple seeds and seedlings to the pioneers in
the 1700’s.
"An
apple a day keeps the doctor away"
[If the doctor is cute, who cares about the fruit..LOL]"
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