An Apple A Day

Think of an apple and see where your mind goes. I automatically go to fall and Thanksgiving. Warm apple pie, caramel apples, apple crisp, bobbing for apples at Halloween, and apple picking conjure up pleasant memories. Fairytales come to mind when I think of the apple. Remember the evil queen giving the cursed apple to Snow White? What about Johnny Appleseed, the prolific nurseryman who planted acres of apple orchards along America’s western frontier? Apple expressions are abundant – “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and “you’re the apple of my eye” are frequently used. Isaac Newton asked why the apple fell from the tree and discovered Newton’s Law of Gravitation. How mind-blowing is this fruit?

I grew up hearing “an apple a day” keeps the doctor away. I always considered the expression a generality, similar to “you are what you eat.” Fruit is good for you, so be sure to eat some, whether it’s an apple or a blueberry. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a proverb advocating for the consumption of apples and the theory that if one eats healthy foods, one will remain in good health and will not need to see the doctor often. After my daughter told me she heard an apple is all you need in the morning – to wake up, nourish, and hydrate yourself, I became intrigued, so I started eating an apple a day. What did I find, and what have I learned?

The apple might be the perfect food. It does wake you up in the morning, especially if you need that sugar boost. Skip the protein bar when starting your day, and pick an apple instead. Apples can help you manage your blood sugar and lower your cholesterol. Apples have a low glycemic index and load, making them perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without soaring blood sugar.

Apples are an incredibly nutritious fruit that offers multiple health benefits. They’re rich in fiber and antioxidants. Eating them is linked to a lower risk of many chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Apples may also promote weight loss and improve gut and brain health.

Crunching on a whole apple is not my deal. I get the skin in my teeth and apple spray on my face – ruining my morning makeup. Using an apple slicer, divider, and corer is a must. Rinse your apple (I use Castille soap to wash my fruits and vegetables), place the slicer right over the apple stem, and lower it. Viola! If you don’t have time to eat the apple immediately and want to take the slices to work or in the car, create a water bath for your apple slices with a ratio of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of water. Soak the apple slices for 3 to 5 minutes, then drain and rinse them. This simple step should keep your apples from browning for several hours.

A medium apple dishes up an impressive 4 grams of fiber, mostly pectin, which is also known for its ability to lower cholesterol. But to get these benefits, you need to eat the apple, not drink it. Apple juice is similar to apple-flavored liquid sugar. Apples themselves are so juicy and hydrating.

October and November are the perfect months to buy fresh apples – they are in season and abundant. The apple-type choices can be overwhelming. It depends on your preference, but I’m not too fond of tart apples (green) or softer apples (Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala). Softer apples don’t stay crunchy for long and green apples are too sour for me. Because green apples have a higher concentration of malic acid than red apples, the flavor of green apples is sharper and sourer. Apple sampling took me a minute, but I landed on Honeycrisp. They are the most expensive apples (of course) because they cost more to produce. Honeycrisp is an apple cultivar developed at the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station’s Horticultural Research Center. The Honeycrisp has rapidly become a prized apple as its sweetness, firmness, and tartness make it an ideal apple for eating raw – not to mention that they are delicious!

If you are a beginner apple connoisseur, buy one apple of every brand. See what works best for your taste buds, and then dive in. Give apples a try once a day. There is no time like the present to develop good habits, especially as we head into the holidays. As someone who loves routine, my morning apple is like my morning coffee, a must-have. Crunch away and reap all the benefits the lovely apple has to offer.