Apples = amazing

I am going to take a moment of your time to gush about apples.

Fall brings the season of apples, apples are plentiful this time of year and one of the reasons I love this season. Apples are my favorite fruit. Why? They are easy to find, easy to serve, always affordable and extremely good for you.

Apples are packed full of antioxidants and a fiber called Pectin. Pectin is a soluble, fermentable and viscous fiber; a combination with a huge number of health benefits.

• The free-radical fighting power of the natural antioxidants found in an apple help prevent aging effects and breakdown of the brain; reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• Red apples contain an antioxidant called Quercetin that can help boost and fortify your immune system; reducing the risk of sickness.
• Several compounds found within the apple’s peel and in the apple itself help prevent the growth activity of cancer cells in areas such as the liver, colon and breast.
• The fiber in apples lowers cholesterol by binding with fats in the intestines and passing it out of the bodies’ system. In slowing the build up of cholesterol and preventing the cholesterol in your system from solidifying, the fiber in apples also helps keep the arteries and heart cleaner and reduces the risk of heart disease.
• The fiber in apples will help you maintain weight by filling you up without costing too many calories.
• Biting and chewing on apples stimulates saliva production in the mouth. Saliva reduces tooth decay by lowering levels of bacteria.

This is only a short list of the benefits of apples. I could go on longer than you dare to read. Suffice to say, they are incredibly good for you and it is very true that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

How do you consume apples?

I like to eat them cut into small pieces for easy snacking (better than chips while you're gaming!). When I feel more ambitious I will cook them with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top or convert them into homemade applesauce. And then there is the always amazing fresh apple cider…or any apple cider for that matter.