For such a small fruit, apples pack a huge health punch, potentially helping with:
Disease Prevention
Apples are packed with a variety of disease-fighting phytochemicals, says Kristin Kirkpatrick, RDN, a dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic who is based in Colorado. There are many lifestyle forces working against your health — like stress, lack of sleep, or sitting too much — that generate free radicals. Of course, an apple cannot alone make up for any of those, but getting more antioxidants into your diet will help support your body’s defenses against diseases like cancer, notes the American Cancer Society. (3)
Supporting Immunity
What’s more, apples contain vitamin C: One medium-size fruit has 9 percent of your daily value. “That’s not as much as an orange, but vitamin C is important for immunity,” says Kirkpatrick. Maintaining a healthy immune system is especially important in the fall and winter, when cold and flu season is in full swing, so any extra bump in C helps.
Promoting Blood Sugar, Heart, and Gut Health
Finally, apples pack an impressive amount of fiber — about 10 percent of your daily recommended amount in just one apple.This comes from a combination of both insoluble fiber (from the peel) and soluble fiber (from the pectin in apples), explains Kirkpatrick. Fiber in general slows down digestion to help keep blood sugar balanced. Insoluble fiber will promote bowel movement regularity, while pectin is associated with both cardiovascular and gut health. (4)
