Aside from being one of the most convenient and delicious snacks (and a great source of vitamin C), experts say that the old adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” may be true.
Dream time
Barbara Quinn Monterey Herald
My grandchildren – who can sometimes be picky about certain types of fruit and vegetables – have a different story when my two apple trees burst out with sweet, crisp fruits at this time of year.
“Can we pick apples, Grammy?” They beg. When my grandson’s apple is to the core, he carefully selects the stones and puts them in his pocket to plant when he gets home. I love that.
Aside from being one of the most convenient and delicious snacks (and a great source of vitamin C), experts say the old saying “an apple a day” keeps the doctor away.
Researchers in Poland observed that people who ate at least one apple a day had a lower risk of developing colon cancer than those who didn’t. They attributed this finding to two possible reasons.
Apples are a rich source of phytochemicals – natural substances that include polyphenols and flavonoids. These plant chemicals have the ability to fight cancer cells from growing. Apples are also a good source of fiber – another plant substance that has been linked to a lower risk of colon cancer.
Other studies have found that phytochemicals in apples can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid found in apples, may help reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer. And a research team from Cornell University found other phytochemicals with the potential to kill or slow the growth of at least three different types of human cancer cells: colon, breast and liver.
