Make Your Apple a Day Matter!

We have all heard the phrase, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away..." But do we really understand the truth in this saying. An apple is a perfect fruit which has a high level of antioxidants. Antioxidants help rid your body of free radicals, the chemicals that have been linked to causing cancer. One type of antioxidants is flavonoids. Apples are very rich in flavonoids, which have also been shown to lower LDL or bad cholesterol. If the flavonoids in apples can lower your LDL, they can also help prevent heart disease. Read on for some important ways to get your full nutrition content while eating your "apple a day".

First of all, when you are eating an apple, leave the skins on. The skin is a great source of fiber, but also the levels of flavonoids are most highly concentrated in the peel. Even though the skin may be tough and may not be so tasty, try eating it for the rich nutrients it contains.

Another great trick to getting more nutrients and antioxidants from your apples is to keep them refrigerated. As the apple ages and looses its freshness, the level of antioxidants also decreases. Keeping the apple in the refrigerator will help them to stay fresher for longer as well as keep them deliciously crisp!

Applesauce also is very rich in nutrition and antioxidants. Try to use applesauce anywhere you can. Most recipes for baking call for some type of oil as an ingredient. Many times you can simply replace the oil with applesauce that will make the end result taste great as well as add nutrition to the ingredients.

Apple pie is a favorite desert among many Americans. The good news is that apple pie is a nutritious and delicious desert! Take advantage of this great treat by baking a pie using firm apples such as McIntosh, Granny Smith, or Gala apples.

The best way to consume an apple is to eat it fresh as a whole. Technically you can eat the entire fruit, but many people choose not to. Eat all the way from the skin to the core to gobble up the most nutrients you can! Slice it up as a snack served with cottage cheese, yogurt, or peanut butter.

Another awesome way to increase your apple intake is to slice or chop some into a salad. Apples add a crisp texture and sweet flavor to a salad. Red Delicious, Fuji and Cortland apples make a great choice for salad apples. Serve the salad with sweet vinaigrette and the salad will be a hit!

You can also make applesauce using Granny Smith, Jonagold, Empire or Golden Delicious. Sweet apples combined with sour apples create the best tasting applesauce! Simply cook the apples down and enjoy the sweet treat!

Apple season is from September through December. By purchasing fruit in the peak of its season will always ensure it is the most fresh and contains the highest level of nutrition you can get! Go ahead and eat your apple a day!