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5 Ways Apples Keep You Healthy

When you’re looking for a healthy, convenient snack, it’s hard to do better than an apple. Full of vitamins, minerals and fiber, it’s the perfect grab and go food when you’re headed out the door, or when you want to toss something in your lunch bag that requires no preparation. Apples not only help keep you full — something that is important when you want to maintain a slim waistline — they contain powerful antioxidants and nutrients that fight off disease and boosts your immune system. 

Is there truth to the proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? We aren’t sure one way or the other. But there is plenty of research that demonstrates that a percentage of subjects who eat apples on a regular basis are less likely to need prescription medications. Here are 5 ways in which apples provide health benefits.

Quercetin is your friend

You might not have any idea what phytochemicals are, but believe us, your body loves them. Apples are high in quercetin, a phytochemical that contains cancer-fighting antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help your immune system respond to germs and viruses.

Here’s an explainer. Free radicals are responsible for damaging cells and triggering an increased inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation is the culprit when it comes to developing serious health problems. But when you consume quercetin, like the kind found in apples, it can help keep inflammation at bay. It has been found that red apples, in particular, contain high amounts of this. Just remember to eat the apple peel and all, as the peel is where the quercetin is found.