DR. WEIL: Apple a day has many health benefits
By Dr. Weil
Published January 12, 2009 at 6 p.m.
What are the health benefits of eating apples? I'm also curious about the best way to choose apples.
Apples are good for you, as long as they're fresh and organically grown. I avoid apples that have been grown with pesticides or treated with fungicides and wax.
Unfortunately, apples usually rank among the 12 top fruits and vegetables contaminated by pesticides in tests run by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which investigates environmental threats to health. That said, fresh, organically grown apples offer many health benefits:
* Separate studies have shown that including apples in your diet might reduce the risk of cancers of the colon, liver, prostate and lung.
* In 2004 a study from the National Institutes of Health found that eating foods such as apples may reduce chronic cough and other respiratory symptoms.
* Studies in both Australia and England showed that people who eat the most apples and pears have the lowest risk of asthma.
* In 2004, U.S. researchers reported that for every 10 grams of fiber consumed daily, you might be able to lower your risk of developing heart disease by 14 percent. One medium-size apple gives you five grams of fiber.
If you're choosing your apples on the basis of their health benefits, not your taste preferences, you'll be better off with Red Delicious, Northern Spy and Ida Red, because a 2005 Canadian study found these varieties to be highest in antioxidants.
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