Health benefits of apples

Nutritional benefits of apples

An apple a day may not keep the doctor away, but it will deliver plenty of antioxidant-rich polyphenols that help prevent and fight chronic diseases.

Now we find that the type of daily apple you choose may make a big difference.

Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada tested eight different species of apple to measure polyphenol activity. The species included Northern Spy, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Empire, Cortland, McIntosh, Mutsu and Ida Red. All the apples used in the study were grown on the same farm.

The results:

Red Delicious, Northern Spy and Ida Red apples had the highest levels of polyphenol activity
Red Delicious had twice the polyphenol activity than Empire apples, which had the least
Polyphenols are far more concentrated in the apple peel than the flesh of the apple
According to previous research, a single apple has antioxidant activity that is roughly equal to 1,500 mg of vitamin C. Provided, of course, you choose wisely when you go apple picking.

Source: “Red Delicious Apples Packed with Disease Fighting Antioxidants” Lindsey Partos, NutraIngredients.com, 5/25/05, nutraingredients.com