Eat an apple!

Apples from Healing Food Works Reference Database
Can eating an apple a day really help keep the doctor away? It certainly can help you control your blood sugar and gain all the benefits that come with that control. In fact, researchers have discovered that women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. That’s probably because apples, from tart Granny Smith to sweet, juicy Pink Ladies, are loaded with soluble fiber – number one for blunting blood sugar swings. A medium apple dishes up an impressive 4 grams of fiber, mostly pectin, which is also known for its ability to lower cholesterol.

Looking to trim your tummy? (Remember, belly fat is bad for blood sugar.) Try eating three small apples a day. A study from the State University of Rio de Janeiro found that doing so as part of a reduced-calorie diet helped women not only lose more weight but also lower their blood sugar more than women who ate another food instead of apples.

To press every bid of benefits from apples, opt for whole, unpeeled fruit. For apples with a lower Glycemic Level , look for Braeburns, which have more acid and less sugar than Golden Delicious. Next on the glycemic scale is unsweetened applesauce, which offers many of the same health benefits. But steer clear of apple juice; it’s not much better than apple-flavored liquid sugar.

Health Bonus of Apples

Apples aren’t particularly rich in vitamins or minerals, but that doesn’t mean they are not good for you. In fact, they are loaded with antioxidant compounds called flavonoids, believed to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. One study found that eating a small apple with the skin provided total antioxidant and anti cancer activity equal to 1,500 miligrams of vitamin C.

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