The Apple Diet
What is an apple diet? One diet is a de-toxing diet that involves eating only apples for several days. That wasn’t what I had in mind. But, the “three a day apple diet” bases its premise on the recommendation that we eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Since a medium to large apple is more than one serving, a person eating three apples a day would have their 5 servings of recommended fruit per day.
What benefit does this apple diet have? Eating fresh apples is good for you. The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” did have some truth in it. A diet that contains a steady supply of fresh fruit that includes fiber and vitamin C can’t help but be good for you.
The apple diet is simple. Simply eat three apples a day, one before each meal. A medium size apple contains approximately 5 grams of fiber, or 20% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. In fact, an apple contains both kinds of fiber said to be most beneficial: soluble and insoluble. The pectin, or soluble part of an apple, also has the added benefit of preventing cholesterol buildup in the arteries. The insoluble fiber is what creates bulk in the colon, and helps to move food through the digestive tract quickly and easily.
One of the main reason people go on a diet, including the apple diet, is to lose weight safely. Eating three apples a day help you to lose weight because they help you feel fuller. That same medium size apple only contains approximately 80 calories and absolutely no fat and no cholesterol. The fiber in those apples helps you to feel fuller, and eat less at your meals. The sweetness in the apples helps to curb sugar cravings, so you don’t succumb to the brownie that is full of fat, non-fiber carbohydrates, and sugar. And apples don’t get smashed in your purse, backpack or pocket; they don’t spoil out of a refrigerator easily. They are a perfect portable snack.
Benefits of the apple diet, in addition to the benefits from losing weight, may include preventing some types of cancer; preventing heart disease and stroke; and even healthier lungs according to some recent studies. Apples contain flavonoids that help prevent heart disease, stroke, and some cancers; and the phytochemicals available in apple skin is said to reduce colon cancer cells.
Here are some types of apples and their characteristics to get you started on an “apple diet” or at least including an apple in your snack or lunch. The health benefits can be enormous, and an apple just tastes good.
Red Delicious apples are sweet and juicy and available all year round.
Golden Delicious apples are available September to June and are good for snacking or baking.
Red Rome apples are slightly tart, wonderful for baking, and available October through August.
The Winesap apple is good for eating and baking, has a wine-like flavor and is available November to July.
The Granny Smith is a slightly tart apple best for snacking, is green in color, and also available all year round.
The Macintosh apple is two-toned red and green, has a sweet, mild flavor and is in season September through June.
The Jonathon apple has a mildly tart, rich flavor, is deep red in color, and is available all year as well.
I’ve had my own version of the apple diet for years. I just didn’t know it came with so many health benefits!
