SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? Fareway registered dietitian Whitney Packebush tells us why apples may be the next super fruit. It's the topic of this week's Centsable Health.
Apples may be the next super fruit because they help your entire body.
Your head: improve cognition, reduce hallmark signs of Alzheimer's and improve mood
Your heart: pectin (soluble fiber) helps reduce cholesterol
Your lungs: 5 apples per week can help lower respiratory disease
Your waistline: 5 grams of fiber per apple, promotes weight management
Your colon: reduces growth of pre-cancerous and tumor cells through butyrate (a fatty acid)
Apples contain 80 calories, 5 grams of fiber, zero grams of fat, zero milligrams of sodium and zero milligrams of cholesterol in each serving.
Besides eating fresh fruit, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your "apple a day" and get your kids excited about eating them too.
Try spreading a little peanut butter on an apple. They can be added to salads, desserts, and even main dishes like stir fry. You can make homemade apple sauce by boiling 4 medium apples in ½ cup water for about 20 minutes (or until tender), add cinnamon and you're done!
To get the most out of your apples, select firm apples with no soft spots or discolorations. Apples can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 weeks; however, one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch. Ripe apples produce ethylene gas, which ripens other fruit.
Apples that are best for cooking with:
McIntosh
Jonagold
Cortland
Golden Delicious (all-purpose cooking apple)
Granny smith
Apple varieties offered at Fareway:
Jonathan
McIntosh
Jonagold
Jonamac
Cortland
Golden Delicious
Red Delicious
Gala
Granny Smith
Fuji
Braeburn
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