Why an article on apples? Who cares, we know all we need to know about those boring fruit! Well my friends here's a few things you may not know about these humble grocery items!

Apples, due to a distinct lack of digital cameras and word processing devices many centuries ago, it is difficult to tell when apples were first being grown and eaten. They do appear in records in ancient China, Egypt and Greece.

Ramses II (13th century BCE) had them growing as a crop in the Nile delta and the Greeks have records going back as far as the 7th century BCE. The ancient Romans listed 37 varieties many centuries ago.

There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples.

At least 55 million tonnes of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion. China produced about two-fifths of this total. The United States is the second leading producer, with more than 7.5. Eating 2 large apples a day has lowered cholesterol levels by up to 16%! Pectin grabs toxins like the heavy metals lead and mercury, and ushers them out of the body. These two types of fibre also assist with being regular (If you know what I mean!?)

Because of apples high fibre and antioxidant content they are also good for;

Preventing kidney stones

Keeping blood sugar levels stable

Protecting your heart

Strengthening your arteries & preventing atherosclerosis

Protect against free radicals

May also assist with cancer prevention when consumed regularly

Eat apples in place of high glycemic foods and candies. Yes, they can help clean your teeth after a meal, and they taste awesome in apple pies - it's the cream & ice cream that you add that may negate the benefits. Occasionally though, you have to eat bad stuff to fully appreciate the good!

What's in your average apple?

Apples, with skin (edible parts)

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy 50 kcal 220 kJ

Carbohydrates 13.81 g

- Sugars 10.39 g

- Dietary fiber 2.4 g

Fat 0.17 g

Protein 0.26 g

Vitamin A equiv. 3 µg

Thiamin (Vit. B1) 0.017 mg

Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.026 mg

Niacin (Vit. B3) 0.091 mg

Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.061 mg

Vitamin B6 0.041 mg

Folate (Vit. B9) 3 µg

Vitamin C 4.6 mg

Calcium 6 mg

Iron 0.12 mg

Magnesium 5 mg

Phosphorus 11 mg

Potassium 107 mg

Zinc 0.04 mg

www.healthbites.net