10 Things an Apple a Day Will Keep Away

But seriously though, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It keeps tons of other unwanted things away, too. Read on to see what this multitasking little fruit can do.

And if you love this post, consider checking out all the healthy recipes we have in our archives.

Keep the fat away.

A substance in the skin of apples (ursolic acid) can boost metabolism. It increases muscle in the body and reduces fatty tissue. There have been multiple studies on this, concluding that ursolic acid is effective in fighting obesity, aging and other gnarlies.

You can also buy ursolic acid supplements, but eating whole apples is the most protective way to source this must-have health helper.

Keep the yellow teeth away.

Chewing apples stimulates the production of saliva, which helps reduce tooth decay and keep bacteria levels low. They won’t replace your toothbrush, but they can definitely help. And if oral hygiene is a big topic of concern for you, check out these secret tips from a dentist.

Keep the cancer away.

The consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23%. Researchers have also found compounds in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast.

“A diet rich in flavonols from foods such as onions, apples and berries may cut the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by about 25 per cent, a multi-ethnic study has reported”

Keep diabetes away.

Soluble fiber is key to curbing blood sugar swings, and apples are full of it! Have an apple a day, and you’ll be 28% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than your friends who opted for a cronut.

If you still want that sugary dessert, just start with an apple first. It’ll fill you up with fiber and decrease the glycemic load your favorite cookie, cake or candy delivers.

Keep the toxicity away.

Toxins are like iPhones: everybody has them. The way to get rid of them is not by going on a crazy detox diet, but simply by eating an apple! They are great for helping detoxify your liver.

Chalk this success story up to the polyphenols in the apple skins, so be sure to leave those on.

Keep the cataracts away.

People who eat diets filled with antioxidant-rich fruits are 10-15% less likely to develop cataracts.

“Increasing quartiles of combined fruit and vegetable intake were associated with decreasing reduction of odds of cataract or cataract extraction,” explains one relatively recent and very important study.

Keep the heart disease away.

The higher your soluble fiber intake is, the slower plaque builds up in your arteries. When plaque builds in your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart and leads to coronary artery disease.

“A higher recent dietary fiber intake was associated with a lower risk of both coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. For long-term intake, the strength of the association between dietary fiber and all-cause mortality decreased with increasing age.”

Read more about that here.

Keep the Alzheimer’s away.

Well, at least in mice. A study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain.

“Preclinical studies demonstrate that apple juice exerts multiple beneficial effects including reduction of central nervous system oxidative damage, suppression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hallmarks, improved cognitive performance, and organized synaptic signaling.”

Keep the constipation away.

It’s that fiber again. Apples are loaded with stool-moving fiber and incredibly valuable-for-your-health pectin.

Keep the coffee away.

The natural sugars and slowly-released vitamins in apples can help you feel more awake without a caffeine burst or crash (much healthier than coffee and Splenda).