Healthy Eating: An Apple a Day Goes a Long Way

An apple a day is not only a nutrient-rich staple for every woman, it's an essential ingredient in keeping your gut happy. We often of bran or prunes to increase daily fiber, I`ll let you in on a little secret; apples promote good gut bacteria and contain substances that help fight asthma.

Great to support weight loss and good health, its natural sweet juices make it a perfect addition to recipes both baking or sauces. The sculpt meal plan recommends an apple day, helping to support healthy digestion, stop bloating, and reset your metabolism. The crunch of an apple with almond butter is an ideal pick me up for busy ladies on the go!

A crisp crunch followed by the sweet grainy texture, softening with each bite. Your body's enzymes break this material down to be processed through the stomach and absorbed as nutrients into the gut. What was once an apple has now been incorporated into your body. Hence the phrase "You are what You eat!” How you eat is a foundational element of how you live. The quality of food you eat drives the quality of your life.

So what does an apple say about your life? Well if it is going to become part of your body I suppose we should look at what it's made of ...

First, fiber.

An average-sized apple contains about 4.4 g of fiber. Now, remember, much of this fiber is found in the skin (along with most of the vitamins) so think twice before reaching for a peeler. But, in addition to the digestive support from the insoluble fiber, apples also contain potent soluble fibers such as Pectin which is associated with a list of benefits such as:

• Improved blood sugar levels

• Enhanced iron absorption

• Lowering cholesterol

• Decreased blood pressure

• Specific anti-cancer effect

• Improved bowel movement

• Reduced acid reflux symptoms

Apples are also RICH in phytochemicals, such as the flavonoid Quercetin. This anti-inflammatory antioxidant is a well-studied compound that has been clinically linked to a wide array of health benefits including:

• Lowered risk of chronic disease (such as brain, bowel, or cancer)

• Reduced blood pressure

• Improved exercise performance

• Suppressed allergic reactions (inflammation, anaphylaxis, etc.)

• It has even demonstrated signs of reduced aging!

Again, most of the quercetin is in the skin so ... keep that in mind.

One apple element commonly ignored is Vitamin C. A single, medium-sized apple is about 14% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. This water-soluble compound is a powerful antioxidant that plays a role in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and infection control. It is the pivotal precursor to hormones and chemical messenger pathways for neurological activity. In short, it's good for your brain. Vitamin C is also critical for the biosynthesis of collagen, the major component for all connective tissue in your body. However, it's important to keep in mind that the drying or dehydrating of apples removes its Vitamin C.

They say "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and to an extent this is true. Of course, you can't get rid of doctor visits by eating apples. I can't stress this enough. Do not replace check-ups with apples. That being said, an apple a day certainly couldn't hurt. And if it keeps you looking younger and feeling healthier ... why not?

Love,

MyHealthSecret (@myhealthsecretOfficial- Pinterest)

# Apple #HealthyEating