What is useful apple for our health and body. How to store them in winter

An apple is a popular plant of the genus of deciduous trees and shrubs of the Pink family. Its most common species in Russia is the domestic apple tree, the fruits of which are eaten fresh or used as raw materials for numerous culinary dishes and drinks.

Central Asia is considered the historical homeland of the apple tree. People have always been kind to the mysterious fruits of this plant. The fruit of wisdom, which was forbidden to Adam and Eve and became a prerequisite for their expulsion from paradise, is called the forbidden apple. On Olympus, the goddess of discord, Eris, started the Trojan War by throwing an apple between the gods.

Statistical calculations have shown that half of all fruit trees on the planet are apple trees. Breeders have studied and created more than 10 thousand varieties of apple trees. The single progenitor of this variety of fruit plants is the wild apple tree. It is widely distributed in Europe, Asia, America. Mankind has definitely paid attention to an amazing tree for a long time. But scientists have not yet been able to establish the exact date of the beginning of the cultivation of apple trees. There is no doubt that the age of the domestic apple plant is thousands of years old. The fruity species is mentioned in the documents of Lucius Junius Columella, who was a famous writer and naturalist in Ancient Rome. He stated the history of the domestic apple tree, which is already equal to three thousand years (now a total of 5 thousand years can be counted). Presumably, the plant began to be cultivated in Mesopotamia, where the Sumerian state was formed near the favorable soils of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It is authentically known about the popularity of apples in ancient Greece. The philosopher Theophrastus, who worked in the IV-III centuries BC. e., in his writings listed several varieties of plants. After Hellas, the Romans also knew the fruit crop, and then the apple tree traveled throughout the entire European part of the world. Russia has been familiar with the tree since at least the 11th century, when Yaroslav the Wise created a personal garden with apple trees and other fruit plants.

In addition to the domestic apple tree, more than 35 types of culture are known. The plum-leaved apple tree, the low apple tree and the Chinese apple tree are very popular. Trees are often grown as decorations for parks and gardens, which look especially impressive in spring. Apple trees are good honey plants, and their strong wood is easily polished and easy to work, which makes it an excellent raw material for carpentry and miniature products.

The apple tree has a spreading crown and reaches a height of 2 to 15 meters. Flower buds grow on slightly shortened branches, and elongated branches are called growth branches. Some types of wild apple trees protect their branches with thorns. The petiolate leaves may be hairy or without a velvety covering, and the stipules are usually shed, although there are exceptions. Pink, scarlet or white petals form a semi-umbrella or shield. The flowering of apple trees is observed in late spring, while the trees delight passers-by with a strong pleasant aroma. Spherical fruits on the handle usually have a concavity at the top of the fruit. Varieties differ in taste and size of apples, so their radius can be from a few millimeters to 8 cm. Depending on the timing of fruiting, summer, autumn and winter varieties are distinguished, and it is the latter that stand out because they endure harsh climatic conditions.

Almost 15 thousand species of apple trees are known in Russia. In the European and Caucasian region, the forest apple tree is common. Asia Minor, Crimea and Iran more often export oriental apple trees. The Japanese coast of Eurasia is rich in berry (Siberian) apple trees, and the Tien Shan breeds the Nedzvetsky apple tree. The Mississippi basin creates favorable soils for the development of the Soulard apple tree.

The cultivation of apples is widely developed in states with a temperate climate without sudden changes in temperature. Fertile soils and a sufficient amount of moisture - this is a modest "rider" of an apple plant. World exporters of "forbidden fruit" are Germany, Italy, China, Japan, USA, Canada, Spain, Chile, New Zealand. Almost 50% of the turnover of apples are varieties Delicious and Golden Delicious, which have adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions.

Nutritional and vitamin value of apples

The fruits contain approximately 4/5 of the water, if you count the proportion of the weight of the whole apple. The remaining 20% ​​are extremely rich in fiber, sugars, organic acids and vitamin complexes A, C, PP, group B and several others.

The nutritional value 100 g apples:

• 0.44 g proteins
• 0.43 g fat
• 9.82 g carbs
• 1.84 g dietary fiber
• 0.84 g organic acids
• 86.33 g water
• 0.144 g unsaturated fatty acids
• 0.144 g saturated fatty acids
• 9.35 g monosaccharides and disaccharides
• 0.82 g starch
• 0.52 g ash

vitamins in 100 g of apples:

• 0.032 mg beta-carotene (vitamin A provitamin)
• 5.35 mcg retinol equivalent (A)
• 10.5 mg ascorbic acid (C)
• 0.034 mg thiamine (B1)
• 0.025 mg riboflavin (B2)
• 0.073 mg pantothenic acid (B5)
• 0.084 mg pyridoxine (B6)
• 2.21 mcg folic acid (B9)
• 0.32 mg vitamin PP
• 0.41 mg niacin equivalent (RR)
• 0.245 mg tocopherol (E)
• 0.32 mcg biotin (N)
• 2.24 mcg phylloquinone (K)

Energy value of apples

The low calorie content of apples is known all over the world. Nutritionists actively recommend choosing this fruit as the main dish of many types of diets. Apples do not contain fat, and the abundance of carbohydrates in the pulp gives a long-lasting feeling of satiety. It is important for people who follow the figure to remember the different energy value of apples after processing. The calorie content of apples especially increases after drying.

• The calorie content of 100 g of fresh apple is 46 kcal.
• The calorie content of a fetus with a diameter of 5 cm (90 g) is 41.4 kcal.
• The calorie content of a fetus with a diameter of 6.5 cm (130 g) is 59.8 kcal.
• The calorie content of a fetus with a diameter of 7.5 cm (200 g) is 92 kcal.
• Calorie content of 100 g of baked apples - 65 kcal.
• Calorie content of 100 g of dried apples - 255 kcal.

Macro- and microelements in apples

It is no coincidence that apples are one of the most popular fruits in Russia. They are used at any age to replenish iron stores, as well as potassium, sodium, calcium and iodine. The benefits of apples for teeth, bones, digestive system and metabolic processes are really huge. The fruits are rich even in such rare mineral components as boron, selenium, vanadium and rubidium.

macronutrients in 100 g of apples:

• 16.044 mg calcium (Ca)
• 278.32 mg potassium (K)
• 9.044 mg magnesium (Mg)
• 11.052 mg phosphorus (P)
• 26.012 mg sodium (Na)
• 2.035 mg chlorine (Cl)
• 5.021 mg sulfur (S)

trace elements in 100 g of apples:

• 2.234 mg iron (Fe)
• 0.153 mg zinc (Zn)
• 2.03 μg iodine (I)
• 110.05 µg copper (Cu)
• 0.0472 mg manganese (Mn)
• 0.34 µg selenium (Se)
• 4.32 mcg chromium (Cr)
• 8.02 μg fluorine (F)
• 6.03 μg molybdenum (Mo)
• 245.09 mcg boron (B)
• 4.02 μg vanadium (V)
• 1.03 μg cobalt (Co)
• 110.05 µg aluminum (Al)
• 17.03 μg nickel (Ni)
• 63.04 μg rubidium (Rb)

Useful properties of apples

• As mentioned above, apples make a great addition to even the most restrictive diets due to their low calorie content.
• Organic acids in the pulp and skin of apples, together with tannins, fight putrefactive processes in the intestines, relieve flatulence and bloating, remove toxins from the body.
• The pectin in apples is a mild and completely safe laxative. For the treatment of constipation, it is useful to consume a couple of sour apples in the morning on an empty stomach. Some components of the fruit reduce the growth rate of cancer cells in the liver and intestines. To combat this, it is recommended not to limit the use of apples only to the morning meal, but to add them to dinner. A monthly fasting day with an apple mono-diet is very useful for cleansing the body.
• Apple fruits provide the body with a healing effect, regardless of whether it is healthy or not. Fresh apples contain twice as much vitamin A as oranges. The component carries out active prevention of colds and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the eyes.
• An extremely rare vitamin G is found in apples in a record amount for a fruit. The so-called “appetite-stimulating vitamin” prepares the body for the process of digestion and promotes human growth. Also, the fruits are very rich in ascorbic acid and B vitamins. There are 8 times more iodine in unsalted apples than in bananas; orange is inferior to apples by a thirteen-fold handicap. Apples are actively used to treat goiter.
• fresh apples especially useful together with the peel or after grinding on a coarse grater. Wild fruits are not as sweet as domestic varieties, but they contain ten times more useful components. After eating apples, gastric juice is abundantly secreted. This causes appetite and speeds up digestion, so the fruit is very useful for people who do not have time to eat calmly and chew foods diligently.
• Ascorbic acid, which is especially abundant in sour fruits, supports immunity, thickens the walls of blood vessels, removes toxins, and restores strength. Natural antibiotics (phytoncides) from the pulp of apples destroy influenza viruses, treat rashes on the face, and prevent dysentery.
• Potassium and tannins serve to prevent gout and urolithiasis due to the ability to stop the precipitation of uric acid salts. Thus, humble fruits can even cope with kidney stones.
• The mild choleretic effect of the fruit prevents diseases of the gallbladder (for example, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis). Especially effective for the above problems is freshly squeezed apple juice: 0.5–1 glass 20 minutes before meals.
• After apples, a person feels invigorated and refreshed. The low sugar content in fruits allows you to unload blood vessels and improve well-being. Sour varieties of apples are always recommended for diabetics. During the apple diet, the level of cholesterol in the blood is reduced by 30%. Therefore, "forbidden fruits" are called the strongest purifiers of the blood and lymphatic system. They very quickly cope with the hardening of blood vessels and low blood pressure.
• Older people greatly appreciate the described fruits, because their use helps with rheumatism, gout, nervous diseases, eczema and skin problems. This is due to an increase in the level of uric acid relative to the level of formic. Apples effectively strengthen the skin, vision, nails and hair.
• There is an opinion that the regular use of apples and fruit juice prevents destructive processes in the brain and strengthens memory.
• Experiments were conducted at the Nottingham Research Institute, the results of which proved that daily consumption of 5 apples reduces the risk of respiratory diseases by several times. To this ability should be added the prevention of asthma.
• Dentists know that apples are great. replace brushing teeth. Of course, you should not rely on fruits alone, as the brush cleans more "professionally", but one fruit guarantees clean teeth throughout the day. Apples are able to save tooth enamel from destruction.
• Fresh fruits are recommended for those who suffer from gastritis, colitis, beriberi. Baked sweet apples help with chronic constipation and bowel problems.
• Biologically active components found inside the seeds of apples stop the development of cancer. In addition, 5-6 apple seeds provide the daily iodine requirement for the body. However, it should be remembered that the seeds contain a poisonous amygdalin glycoside, which breaks down in the environment of gastric juice with the formation of hydrocyanic acid. To reduce the possible harm from the seeds, it is best to fry them and sweeten them with sugar. Even with such precautions, you should not consume more than 6 apple seeds per day.

Contraindications to eating apples

• It is dangerous to eat apples with ulcers and gastritis due to the high content of organic acids in them. In this case, it would be more correct to eat apples after a meal, and not on an empty stomach.
• With urolithiasis and colitis, doctors advise eating apples only in the form of puree.
• The use of several apple pits per day greatly increases the concentration of hydrocyanic acid in the body.
• A decoction of apple leaves sometimes causes diabetes.

Perhaps you will not find such a person who has not eaten apples - this fruit is considered the most popular, in demand throughout the globe. But they began to cultivate it back in the 16th century - even then 25 varieties of apple trees were grown by mankind.

The chemical composition of apples, their energy value

Nutritional value of 100 g:

• Calories: 47 kcal
• Proteins: 0.4 gr
• Fats: 0.4 gr
• Carbohydrates: 9.8 gr

• Dietary fiber: 1.8 gr
• Organic acids: 0.8 gr
• Water: 86.3 gr
• Unsaturated fatty acids: 0.1 g
• Mono- and disaccharides: 9 gr
• Starch: 0.8 gr
• Ash: 0.5 gr
• Saturated fatty acids: 0.1 g

Macronutrients:

• Calcium: 16 mg
• Magnesium: 9 mg
• Sodium: 26 mg
• Potassium: 278 mg
• Phosphorus: 11 mg
• Chlorine: 2 mg
• Sulfur: 5 mg

Vitamins:

• Vitamin PP: 0.3 mg
• Beta-carotene: 0.03 mg
• Vitamin A (RE): 5 mcg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 0.03 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 0.02 mg
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic): 0.07 mg
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): 0.08 mg
• Vitamin B9 (folic): 2 mcg
• Vitamin C: 10 mg
• Vitamin E (TE): 0.2 mg
• Vitamin H (biotin): 0.3 mcg
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone): 2.2 mcg
• Vitamin PP (Niacin equivalent): 0.4 mg

Trace elements:

• Iron: 2.2 mg
• Zinc: 0.15 mg
• Iodine: 2 mcg
• Copper: 110 mcg
• Manganese: 0.047 mg
• Selenium: 0.3 mcg
• Chromium: 4 mcg
• Fluorine: 8 mcg
• Molybdenum: 6 mcg
• Boron: 245 mcg
• Vanadium: 4 mcg
• Cobalt: 1 mcg
• Aluminum: 110 mcg
• Nickel: 17 mcg
• Rubidium: 63 mcg

Apples are not only a source of vitamins - there are really a lot of them in this fruit and each is responsible for the normal functioning of the whole organism. The product in question also contains micro / macro elements:

• phosphorus;
• chromium;
• calcium;
• molybdenum;
• potassium;
• iron and many others.

Doctors especially appreciate the dietary fiber in the composition of apples of different varieties - they are responsible for the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. And organic acids and unsaturated fatty acids make the product in question almost indispensable - experts recommend eating 2-3 apples a day so that the body can “saturate” with vitamins, micro / macro elements and other important substances.

But the energy value of apples is low - only 47 kcal per 100 g of the product.

Useful properties of apples

Everyone knows that all varieties of the fruit in question have high taste qualities, which is probably why apples are considered the most favorite fruit of hundreds of thousands of people. But in addition to gastronomic pleasure, apples have many useful properties, which makes them important and necessary for human health. Here are just some of the health benefits of apples:

Apple harm

Everyone is so accustomed to the fact that apples are useful that the question of their harm is not raised at all. Meanwhile, doctors warn - even the most useful product can harm human health. As for apples, you need to remember the following features of this fruit:

1. They negatively affect tooth enamel, because the combination of acid and sugar destroys it - after eating apples, experts recommend thoroughly rinsing the mouth with warm, clean water.
2. Apples should not be consumed in too large quantities and for a long time, as this can lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract - this applies to fasting days and mono-diets.
3. With peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, gastritis with high / low acidity of gastric juice and chronic colitis, passion for apples can provoke a deterioration in health, exacerbation of pathologies.
4. If a person has a history of any diseases of the cardiovascular system, then red apples should be excluded from the diet altogether - even if only green and yellow representatives of this culture are present on the menu.
5. There is an opinion that it is in the bones of apples that a large amount of iodine is contained. This is true, but they also contain hydrocyanic acid - it is a poison for the body. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat apple seeds in general, but it is allowed to eat a maximum of 5 grains per day.
6. Apples contain a lot of sugar, so you can’t eat them at night - this will not be a diet food, but a direct path to gaining excess weight. By the way, due to the presence of sugar in apples, they should also be used with caution by those who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
7. Apples contribute to increased gas formation in the intestines - this point should be taken into account for those who are already suffering from flatulence or have a tendency to do so.

How to choose and store apples

In order not to make a mistake in choosing apples and buy really tasty, healthy ones, you need to know the varieties of this fruit. And they are divided into:

1. Summer - trees begin to bear fruit from July-August, they are not intended for long-term storage, but they make the most delicious jams, preserves and compotes. Summer varieties of apples include: white filling, melba, Chinese, borovinka and Moscow pear (these are the most common summer varieties).
2. Winter - they begin to bear fruit at the end of September, they are perfectly stored throughout the year. The most common winter varieties of apples are Antonovka, Snow Kalvil, Semerenko, Pepin, Orlik and Sinap.

In retail outlets, “overseas” varieties are also actively sold - Granny Smith (bred in Australia, distinguished by juiciness and sour taste) and Golden Delicious (distinguished by sweet taste, juiciness and pulp that does not darken for a long time).

The next step in choosing apples is evaluating their appearance. If you have already decided on the variety, then pay attention to the following:

• apples should be firm and firm to the touch;
• there should not be any spots on the peel;
• give preference to non-imported fruits - the most delicious and healthy apples are sold from autumn to March;
• in glossy, bright imported apples, there are practically no useful substances and vitamins.

Bought apples... And how to store them properly? Firstly, they can be dried and enjoy dried fruit compote for a long time. Just keep in mind that dried apples have a sharp increase in calories - you definitely won’t be able to lose weight with them. Secondly, apples are perfectly stored in a cool, ventilated room without light - it can be, for example, a cellar. Thirdly, apples can be placed in a large vessel and simply filled with water - after a while they will acquire the taste of soaked, but at the same time they will not lose their useful qualities at all.

In addition to the delicious taste, apples have very useful and healing (healing) properties. Apples are the most common fruit in our country and it is very pleasant that apples are extremely useful and necessary for our health. Useful and medicinal properties of apples are explained by their healing composition. Apples contain vitamins C, B1, B2, P, E, carotene, potassium, iron, manganese, calcium, pectins, sugars, organic acids. The composition of the fruits of various varieties of apple contains in%: Sugars 5-15, fiber 0.6, starch 0.8, pectin 0.27, organic acids 0.3-0.89 (apple 0.37, citric 0.11 , tartaric and chlorogenic acids). Apples are very rich in vitamins, in%: vitamin C - 8-22.4 vitamin P - 60-400, vitamin B1 - 0.8-2.3, vitamin B2 - 0.05, vitamin B6 0.08, carotene 0 .02–0.03. The composition of green apple varieties still contains Bis 0.07; E 0.63 mg% and biotin 0.30 µg%. Apples also contain a large number of trace elements: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, aluminum, boron, vanadium, iron, iodine, copper, molybdenum, nickel, fluorine, chromium and zinc. The peel of apple fruits contains flavonoids. The composition of the fruit contains 84-90% water. Apple seeds contain up to 15% fatty oil, amygdalin glycoside up to 0.6%. The leaves contain vitamin C 450 mg% and glycoside amygdalin.

health benefits of apples

Apples contribute to the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system, and are also used to prevent constipation and increase appetite.

The composition of apples contains from 5 to 50 mg% of chlorogenic acid, which contributes to the excretion of oxalic acid from the body and, in addition, to the normal functioning of the liver.

Apples lower blood cholesterol levels due to their pectin and related fiber content. One apple with peel contains 3.5 g. fibers, i.e. more than 10% of the daily fiber requirement for the body. An apple without a peel contains 2.7 g. fibers. Insoluble fiber molecules attach to cholesterol and help remove it from the body, thereby reducing the risk of vascular blockage and heart attacks. Apples contain soluble fibers called pectins, which help bind and remove excess cholesterol produced in the liver. The peel of an apple contains a high amount of the antioxidant quercetin, which, together with vitamin C, prevents free radicals from having a harmful effect on the body. Thanks to pectin, the apple also acquires some of its protective power. Pectin is able to bind harmful substances entering the body, such as lead and arsenic, and remove them from the body. The insoluble fiber in apples prevents constipation and removes harmful substances from the body, thereby reducing the chance of colon cancer.

Useful properties of apples. Apple treatment

Apples are used for vitamin deficiency, lowering the level of vitamin C, anemia. From the juice of sour apples (by adding 2 parts of iron per 100 parts of juice) an extract of malic acid iron is obtained, used for anemia.

Apples prevent the formation of uric acid, are used for gout, chronic rheumatism. It is good and useful to drink decoctions and infusions from apples. Cut apples into tea, let them brew and drink.

Apples have good dietary properties and are used as a dietary product for indigestion, beriberi, anemia, and as a diuretic. Apples have a tonic effect and increase the body's resistance to radiation. Apples are considered a good dietary remedy for metabolic disorders, obesity and gout, fresh - for the prevention of atherosclerosis. It is better to eat fresh apples, as they contain substances that can oxidize vitamin C, and heat treatment leads to the destruction of these substances and a decrease in vitamin C in the body.

Apple phytoncides are active against pathogens of dysentery, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus, influenza A viruses. The antimicrobial activity of phytoncides increases from the periphery of the fruit to the center. The use of apples in the period after the transfer of a heart attack is recommended.

With gastritis one of the most effective means are apples. Only green varieties, washed, peeled, but not peeled, grate on a fine grater. Do not eat or drink 4-5 hours before and after taking apples. It is advisable to eat apples early in the morning, then at 11 o'clock you can have breakfast, or in the evening. At night, apples cannot be eaten due to increased gas formation. Continue treatment for a month daily, the second month - 2-3 times a week, the third - weekly. At the same time, follow the prescribed diet and do not consume milk, fatty, spicy, salty foods, strong tea, coffee, fresh bread, spices.

Apple juice well strengthens the cardiovascular system, is useful for people of mental labor. There are many hematopoietic elements in the juice.

With obesity make a mixture of juices: apple - 100 ml, melon - 50 ml, tomato - 5 ml, lemon - 25 ml. Accept also with avitaminosis and anemia.

With atherosclerosis, hypertension, obesity, gallbladder diseases take 1/2 cup 15-20 minutes before meals.

Sour varieties of apples are accepted in diseases of the stomach with low acidity and constipation.

Useful properties of apples to alleviate cold cough and hoarseness: 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of apple peel with 1 cup of boiling water and insist like tea. Take 1/2 cup 5-6 times a day before meals or 2-3 unpeeled apples, pour 1 liter of water and boil for 15 minutes. Take 1 glass 3 times a day before meals.

Apples have powerful healing properties: for healing cracked lips, nipples and hands: Grate 100 g of apples and mix with animal, pork, goose fat or butter in a 1: 1 ratio. It is used at night, after washing the skin area with toilet soap.

Externally grated apples are used for burns to cover the affected areas of the skin with them, reduce inflammation and soreness. Apples reduce warts; in case of inflammatory diseases of the skin of the face, they are widely used for masks due to the high content of tannins.

An apple is one of the most popular diet foods. Thanks to a set of useful substances, it helps to enhance the metabolic processes in the body, without which normal weight loss is impossible.

So, apples are not just a food product filled with fiber, they are a valuable vitamin and mineral complex, which also has a lot of dietary fiber, and because of the high water content and low calorie content, apples seem to be the best product for dietary nutrition.

Apples are a valuable natural source of vitamin C. Sour apples are richer in this vitamin. In addition to affecting the immune system, vitamin C strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reduces their permeability to toxins (in other words, it does not allow poison to enter the body), and promotes rapid recovery after a long illness. Apples contain natural antibiotics - phytoncides, which in themselves have a detrimental effect on the pathogens of the influenza virus, Staphylococcus aureus, help with acne on the face, destroy dysentery pathogens.

In influenza, the beneficial effect of apples is based not only on its antiviral effect, but also on the fact that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) actively strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reduces the permeability of capillary walls for toxins, i.e. helps to reduce the harmful effects of the virus on the human body. It is also important that apples contain P-vitamin-active tannins, which helps vitamin C further strengthen and protect the walls of blood vessels.

Firstly, apples contain such important natural acids as malic, tartaric and citric, and in combination with the same tannins, these acids stop the processes of decay and fermentation in the intestines, make it possible not to feel flatulence, bloating, promote natural cleansing and intestinal recovery. A healthy gut is the key to longevity and health. To prevent constipation, it is best to eat one or two sour apples on an empty stomach in the morning. What's more, apples have been proven to contain substances that stop the growth of cancer cells in the intestines and liver. So for problems with the intestines, in addition to 1-2 apples on an empty stomach, it will be useful to eat 1-2 apples during the day. It will be no less useful to arrange an unloading apple day (mini-apple mono-diet) every 2-3 weeks.

The same tannins (due to the fact that apples are rich in potassium) help prevent gout and urolithiasis. How? They do not allow uric acid salts to precipitate, therefore, with uric acid diathesis, they are not only a treatment, but also a prevention of larger troubles - urolithiasis. How to install it? If you have a lot of uric acid salts in your urine test, if you want to get rid of kidney stones - chew apples!

Apples contribute to the prevention of gallbladder diseases: having a mild choleretic effect, they help prevent cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. If you already have problems with the gallbladder, then do not forget to use freshly squeezed apple juice - half a glass or a glass 15-30 minutes before meals.

But with low acidity and constipation, it is recommended to drink a glass or two of freshly squeezed apple juice daily, and only from sour apples. In case of duodenal ulcer and gastritis with high acidity, it is advised to consume sweet varieties of apples approximately 20-30 minutes before meals.

Apples contain a lot of iron, they are rightly considered a good helper for anemia in children, adults, and especially in pregnant women. Of course, a href="http://www.inmoment.ru/beauty/health-body/iron.html" title=" trace element iron">железа в яблоках намного меньше, чем в печенке, кровянке или просто куске мяса, но железо из яблок обладает высокой биологической усваиваемостью, т.е. почти все используется организмом. Кроме того, есть народное средство увеличить содержание полезного железа в яблоках: просто на пару дней воткните в яблоко два-три чистых гвоздя. Они за это время под действием кислот, которые есть в яблоках, окислятся.!}

Notice another important feature: potassium in apples is about 11 times more than sodium! And this means that apples have a mild diuretic effect and reduce swelling in the body. If we add to this their ability to strengthen the vascular wall, it turns out that apples become an invaluable assistant to the doctor in case of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. So doctors rightly say that apples help strengthen the cardiovascular system. Moreover, after a heart attack, apples are extremely necessary for a person: they not only strengthen blood vessels, cleanse them and restore health, but also put the intestines in order, prevent constipation, and this is important in preventing complications after a heart attack (many sovereigns, including those we, in Russia, were dying of apoplexy on a chamber pot, sorry for such intimate details). And apples also contain a “loading dose” of antioxidants – substances necessary for the restoration of the cardiovascular system. So, instead of multivitamin preparations and tablets with antioxidants, it is enough to eat 1-3 apples a day. By the way, it will also cost a lot less. Just remember that antioxidants are contained in the apple peel, so you should not eat apples in any case, not peeled, and even more so not grated.

Hearts should also remember that pectin, which is contained in apple fibers, helps to normalize cholesterol levels. And high cholesterol levels increase the risk of serious vascular complications. One medium-sized apple with skin contains 3 to 5 g of fiber, i.e. about 10% of the daily fiber requirement for the body. An apple without a peel contains up to 2-2.5 g of fiber. Pectins contained in apples can not only bind cholesterol and remove it from the bloodstream, but also have a beneficial effect on the liver, reduce cholesterol stores in it, and increase the activity of anti-cholesterol enzymes. If you eat up to 10 g of fiber per day from apples (that's about 0.5 of a raw product with a peel), then your cholesterol can be reduced by 15-18%, and to enhance the anti-cholesterol effect of apples, do not forget to eat an onion head daily and drink 3 -4 cups of green tea. This will reduce the risk of acute vascular complications (heart attack or stroke) by a third.

And how endocrinologists love to advise eating apples! They have long noticed that apples surpass many fruits in iodine content, yielding the palm in this only to marine products (in bananas, grapefruits and oranges, iodine is 7-10 times less than in apples). Therefore, apples help prevent thyroid diseases. Just remember: iodine is found in apple seeds, so the apple must be eaten with the seeds. And the ability of apples to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, plus the low content of fructose in sour apples, will allow this fruit to be actively used to feed diabetics.

The tonic effect of apples on the human body is also widely known. It is these properties of apples to positively influence the immune system that make them a good means of preventing tuberculosis. Apples are indispensable even when a person has been ill with infectious diseases, has suffered a long illness and needs to restore his strength.

Properly prepared dried fruits from apples, as well as apple jams, compotes, etc. contain many nutrients, especially if cooked properly. Apples are not only part of the apple diet, they become the basis of many diets and dietary systems that would not be as effective without apples. Firstly, apples are rich in iodine, therefore, they affect the thyroid gland, activate metabolic processes. They have a beneficial effect on intestinal motility (increased intestinal activity): food moves through the intestines faster, which means that fewer nutrients have time to enter the body. The mild diuretic effect and choleretic properties of apples actively contribute to weight loss. The high content of vitamins and antioxidants also helps to normalize metabolic processes in the body. The acids found in apples contain folic acid, which dulls the feeling of hunger. These mechanisms make apples indispensable for weight loss.

Fairy tales are dedicated to them, hundreds of culinary masterpieces are prepared from them, they are even turned into a world-famous company logo. I'm talking, of course, about apples. A fruit that is consumed both on weekdays and on holidays. Both adults and children know about the benefits of fruits, as it seems at first glance. However, almost no one goes further than the notorious "good for health". So what is their use? Or maybe, according to some nutritionists, they are harmful? It's time to dot the i and understand what kind of fruit it is.

Advantages

Apples, the benefits and harms of which have been discussed by doctors for decades, are a storehouse of B vitamins, vitamins E and C. In addition to them, this fruit is rich in iron, which, by the way, is almost completely absorbed by the body, as well as manganese, iodine and potassium. The latter is responsible for the strength of teeth and bones.

The advantage of apples is that the fiber contained in them is absorbed for a long time. This feature of the fruit allows you to use it for food for those who are on diets or decide to have a fasting day. It also contains pectin, which will help improve the condition of the skin, reduce the rate of its aging. Finally, an apple is a hypoallergenic fruit, so it is not only healthy for children, but also safe.

Unlike other fruits, these fruits remain the same useful even after heat treatment. Baked apples, the benefits and harms of which are no less fiercely discussed by experts and consumers, have the same vitamins and elements as fresh "brothers".

Fruits are not afraid of long-term storage, since over time the amount of useful substances in them almost does not decrease.

Impact on the body

Apples have a positive effect on the human body, in particular on the cardiovascular system. The substances that make up their composition increase the elasticity of the walls of the vessel, which helps to avoid many heart diseases.

The beneficial effect of apples on the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system is explained by the ability of the fruit to bind toxic elements and remove them from the body. In addition, it is a mild natural laxative and diuretic. Although to achieve this effect, you will need to eat a lot of fruits at one time.

The antioxidants found in apples, as well as the availability of the fruit, make it a popular and effective "cure" for beriberi, as well as an aid in getting rid of colds.

The presence of iron in their composition helps to increase hemoglobin, which is perfectly absorbed by the body, moreover, it contributes to the absorption of this element from other products. That is why apples are recommended for children, pregnant women and those with anemia.

Finally, a low calorie content (47 kcal per 100 g of product) makes them a dietary fruit.

Contraindications for use

Modern medical literature often raises the question of what apples carry. The benefits and harms of the fruit become the leading idea of ​​the warring parties.

You could see the benefits of its use for health. It is somewhat wrong to talk about the dangers of fruits; it is more correct to indicate contraindications for use. That is, apples bring only benefits to the bulk of people. At the same time, there is a group of people who, due to the characteristics of the body, are not able to eat the daily norm of fruits.

First of all, we are talking about people suffering from diseases of the stomach, in particular gastritis and having a low acidity of gastric secretion. Such incompatibility is explained by the presence in the apple of active fruit acids that can turn gastritis into a dangerous ulcer. These same acids contribute to inflammation in the gallbladder.

It is believed that sweet varieties of apples are not recommended for use in cardiovascular diseases. And too acidic, containing a large amount of fruit acid, can cause problems with the teeth: thinning of the enamel, increased sensitivity of the teeth.

Today, there are a considerable number of mono-diets, including apple. However, prolonged "sitting" on such a diet can result in intestinal colic and more serious gastrointestinal diseases.

Why can't you eat apple seeds?

Many people eat apple seeds along with the fruit. The benefits and harms of this part of the fetus are also of interest to scientists. However, on this score, their opinion is unanimous: the use of a large number of apple seeds is dangerous to health. The fact is that the bones contain a dangerous poison - hydrocyanic acid. It is clear that 3-4 seeds are not terrible, but their special use is not recommended.

In addition to the indicated toxic substance, the bones are rich in iodine. Some deliberately use them to fill the need for this element. However, its content is low, and therefore not able to cope with the assigned task.

Bones from apples, the benefits, the harm of which no longer cause fierce controversy, were used for divination in the old days. The unmarried threw them into the fire. If they swelled and burned with a bang, it was worth preparing a dowry, since such a "behavior" of apple seeds promised a quick marriage. Quiet shrinking meant a slow marriage.

The benefits of green fruits

Green apples are considered to be healthier. They are distinguished by an oval shape, bright skin and white juicy softness inside.

In addition, green apples are much healthier than red ones because they contain more vitamins. They are indicated for gastritis with low acidity, and also help fight excess weight, as they actively break down fat.

Contraindications to taking green fruits are all the same stomach problems and increased sensitivity of the teeth. Thus, answering the question about the green apple: "Is there any benefit and harm from it?" - it can be said with confidence that this variety - subject to the measure - is good to use for everyone who has not been forbidden by a doctor. Be sure to include it in your diet.

Bake

Those who are bored with nibbling fresh fruits are thinking about what to cook from them, while retaining the beneficial composition of the fruit. Baked apples are especially popular. Their benefits and harms are discussed by nutritionists. This dish is tasty and healthy. The potassium contained in it helps to strengthen the muscles of the myocardium. However, its excess can cause spasm. If you are a fan of such a dish as baked apples, the harm and benefits they cause to the body will depend only on your moderation.

In addition, in this form, these fruits no longer have a high content of fruit acids. This means that they can be used by people with gastritis of various acidities, ulcers and other diseases of the stomach.

For those who are afraid to gain weight, baked apples are also useful. They give a feeling of satiety. The benefits of apples are undeniable, because they are also low in calories.

About the dangers of baked fruits

As already mentioned, the abuse of baked fruits causes an excess of potassium in the body, which, in turn, increases the load on the heart, causing a spasm of the heart muscle. In addition, if you eat a large number of baked apples, you can get a lot better.

And when switching exclusively to an apple diet, you expose yourself to the risk of a number of diseases, since these fruits do not satisfy the body's need for proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Apples for children

The hypoallergenicity of these fruits, as well as their growth throughout the country, makes them quite frequent on the children's table. It is apple juices that are recommended by many pediatricians as the first complementary foods.

As they get older, children crunch fruits with pleasure. In order not to provoke an allergic reaction, in the first years of life it is better to treat the baby with green apples, while choosing those varieties that grow in your area.

You should not abuse the fruit, because the child's gastrointestinal tract is not yet perfect, and colic - even without apples, is a fairly common illness in a child up to a year old. To avoid problems with digestion, it is better to peel the fruit, as the child is unlikely to chew on a dense shell. Of course, all the bones and core should be removed.

To reduce the effect of fruit acids, it is recommended to combine an apple with, for example, carrots. To make a vitamin salad, just grate them in equal parts. Do not forget to add a drop of olive oil to this dish. It will make sure that all vitamins are fully absorbed by the body.

Almost all children love baked apples. Their benefits and harms for the child's body are not unambiguous, the main thing in this case is not to overdo it. These fruits are great as a dessert, second breakfast or afternoon snack. However, do not overdo it - no more than 1 serving per day. Interestingly, in baked fruits you can hide cottage cheese, unloved by many kids. To do this, you just need to remove the core from them and put a spoonful of cottage cheese instead. It can be mixed with nuts, raisins. Tasty, and most importantly - a healthy dish, it remains only to bake - and you can serve it to a little gourmet.

Dried apples, the benefits and harms of which are also a frequent subject of controversy among doctors, will also be to the taste of lovers of sweets. But everything needs moderation.

Who is shown the use of fruits?

Apples, the benefits and harms of which depend on the variety used and the volume eaten, can act as an additional healing agent for certain diseases. These include:

• skin diseases such as eczema and dermatitis;
• joint diseases: rheumatism, osteochondrosis, gout;
• hypotension, especially if accompanied by hardening of the vessels.

And these fruits are also used as an additional product for people with iron deficiency.

Apple treatment

The possibility of healing with the help of these fruits has been known since ancient times. So, sweet and sour varieties in fresh form will alleviate the condition with colitis and violations of the movement of bile through the ducts. However, it should be borne in mind that such treatment is only suitable for people with low acidity.

Acute colitis can be brought to a less painful stage by taking grated sweet apples. You can eat 1.5-2.5 kg per day, dividing this amount into 5-6 doses.

Baked fruits mixed with natural fat (melted) are used as a healing agent. This composition can treat cracked lips, chapped hands, as well as cracked nipples in nursing women.

Apples in cosmetology

In addition to the active intake of fruits inside, they can be used as care products.

The easiest way to invigorate the skin, giving it a healthy glow, is to cut off a slice of an apple and massage it on your face and neck.

Masks based on these fruits are suitable for all skin types. They saturate it with vitamins, and depending on the other added components, nourish, moisturize or tighten pores. In addition, the baked apple is also effectively used in masks.

How to use correctly?

If you eat fruits grown in your own garden or purchased from friends, you can safely eat the fruit with the peel. Moreover, it is rich in vitamins.

If you bought an apple in a store, and it is, as if from a picture, evenly ripened, colorful and perfectly even, it is better to get rid of the peel. It is too likely to eat all sorts of chemicals that processed fruit. They tend to accumulate on the surface.

As for apple varieties, the choice will be up to you, depending on tastes and health conditions. However, if you want the fruit to bring as many vitamins as possible to the body, choose winter varieties. They manage to accumulate trace elements and other useful components over the summer.

Norms of use

Apples, the benefits and harms of which are associated with the selected variety and the volumes eaten, are not recommended to be eaten immediately after a meal. In this case, you are likely to suffer from bloating. It is better to use the fruits as a separate meal, 2-4 hours after the main meal.

Experts advise eating apples on an empty stomach 30 minutes before meals. However, this rule is best ignored by those who have stomach problems or prefer sour apples.

Finally, the main question: "How many apples per day can be eaten so that they are beneficial?" Experts believe that 2-3 pieces of medium-sized fruits are enough. And it should be either fresh or baked fruit. Apples in charlotte, for example, give nothing but taste. So, these fruits are an excellent tool to help keep yourself in shape, saving you from certain diseases and beriberi.

Apples are considered to be unique fruit fruits. If you eat up to four fruits per day, the supply of vitamin and mineral substances in the human body is fully restored. Daily consumption of fruits, taking into account which vitamins predominate in apples, heals the body, promotes the rapid burning of subcutaneous fat deposits, and also improves the functioning of internal organs and their systems.

Many are interested in whether it is true that in a green apple there are much more vitamin substances than in its other types. In fact, vitamins and minerals are contained in the same amount in all varieties of fruit. Even grown in farmlands, passing through the processing of special chemicals, they do not lose their beneficial properties, which determine their beneficial effect on the human body.

Nutritional value of apples

The composition of an apple, in addition to vitamin and mineral substances, also contains the following elements:

The calorie content of one hundred grams of fruit is 47 kcal. The content of apple in small amounts of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and sufficient vitamins makes it indispensable in the diet of people.

What vitamins and minerals are in apples?

The main nutrients in the composition of an apple belong to such groups as:

Having learned how much vitamin is in an apple, people begin to be interested in its mineral composition. It is represented by such components as:

As you can see, an apple contains not only vitamins, but also a large number of micro and macro elements, as well as various acids, which also have a positive effect on the body.

Useful properties of an apple

Vitamins and trace elements contained in the fruits of fruit trees determine their beneficial effects on the human body. The main beneficial properties of eating these fruits are:

• reduction in the amount of cholesterol deposits in the body;
• improvement of digestion processes;
• enrichment of the body with nutrients necessary for its normal functioning, especially during periods of general beriberi;
• reducing the risk of developing cancer;
• improving the functioning of the brain;
• removal of toxic and slag substances entering the body from the environment.

The amount of vitamins in an apple makes it a recommended food for people suffering from conditions such as:

• urolithiasis disease;
• osteochondrosis;
• kidney failure;
• obesity.

In addition, the daily consumption of apple tree fruits or its juice will allow you to forget about viral and infectious diseases. Not only will the body get stronger, but its protective functions of the immune system will also increase.

Contraindications for use

Despite the fact that apples contain large amounts of vitamins, there are certain groups of people for whom their use is not recommended. These include people suffering from:

• colitis;
• gastroenteritis;
• duodenal ulcer, stomach;
• inflammatory processes developing in the gallbladder;
• increased sensitivity of the teeth;
• diabetes mellitus.

Do not give preference to the use of only these fruits. The diet should be varied and complete for the normal functioning of the body as a whole.

Many begin to talk about the beneficial effects of its seeds on the body. In fact, this is a common myth. Fruit seeds contain a substance such as hydrocyanic acid, which has a negative effect on the body. Its intake in large quantities can cause intoxication. It is permissible to consume no more than five seeds of the fetus per day.

In the children's diet, apple puree mass appears no earlier than six months. In order to avoid the development of allergic reactions in children to food, it is better to give preference to green varieties of fruit. In addition, it is important to ensure that the child does not receive fruit on an empty stomach, as this can cause an increase in the acidity of the stomach, which, in turn, will provoke colic and painful conditions.

The composition and benefits of apple juice

Apple juice has the same beneficial properties as the fruit itself. It is important that it be obtained from fresh fruits that have not undergone heat treatment. The low calorie content and nutritional composition of the drink make it useful for the whole organism as a whole. In the heat, it perfectly quenches thirst. The beneficial effect on the body is manifested in:

• removal of free radicals;
• rejuvenation of the body;
• improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• strengthening the walls of blood vessels;
• reducing the risk of developing stroke and heart attacks;
• elimination of inflammatory processes in the kidneys, urinary tract;
• reduction of symptomatic manifestations of such an ailment as chronic constipation;
• normalization of the functioning of the nervous system.

It is better to prepare a healing drink on your own, using a juicer or any improvised means. It is important to remember that it should not be used by people with high acidity of the stomach, dysbacteriosis. The latter diagnosis is most often found in young children, and therefore, apple juice should not be given before they reach six months of age.

How to properly preserve the nutrients in the composition of apples?

People who have their own farms, as well as summer cottages, take care to preserve the available vitamins and trace elements in apples during the winter period. There are several ways to get the maximum amount of nutrients from fruits. These include:

• urination - sour varieties of fruit are washed, folded into an enamel bowl, whose bottom was previously lined with currant leaves, for example. The folded fruits are poured with a pre-prepared wort, which includes rye flour mixed with a small amount of water. The solution is brought to two liters, then decanted. A tablespoon of dry salt and mustard is added to the solution for each liter. Fruits are infused for forty days, after which they can be eaten;
• paper transfer - each fruit is wrapped in paper, after which they are all placed in a linen bag;
• rubbing with glycerin - fruits are wiped with a soft cloth soaked in glycerin and placed in boxes in a cool, dark place.

Such storage methods allow you to save not only the beneficial properties of the fruit, but also their vitamin and mineral components for a long time. In addition, it is worth observing the thermal regimes when cooking apple jams, compotes, and freezing them. This will allow you to enjoy a pleasant apple flavor for a long time.

What is the right way to eat apples?

It is worth adhering to certain rules when eating fruit fruits. These include:

• keeping between eating and eating fruit for 2-4 hours for better absorption of nutrients by a person;
• it is necessary to eat the fruit half an hour before meals to awaken the appetite and improve the absorption of nutrients from the main dishes;
• the introduction of an apple fasting day into the monthly diet, which will not only allow you to lose one and a half kilograms of weight, but also strengthen the body as a whole.

Useful properties in apples