Apples, apples everywhere

A friend stopped by and left us with a few apples. :)
Not one...



...but TWO boxes of apples.

Two boxes, people!! What are we going to do with that many apples?!

Actually, it's really not that much of a problem in our house. They'll get eaten pretty quickly. I might make an apple pie or two. Or we'll make small individual pies. We might try to make homemade apple sauce. We'll probably cut them up and mix with some other fruits for a fruit salad.

As I was writing this post I thought I'd give you a few facts about apples. First I looked up some health benefits. There might be more, but this is what I found first. Then after this is a link for 20 facts about apples. Pretty interesting reading, folks. Enjoy. :)

10 Health benefits of Apples

Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

Asthma Help
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.

Alzheimer's Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

Lung Cancer Prevention
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

Breast Cancer Prevention
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.

Colon Cancer Prevention
One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Liver Cancer Prevention
Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.

Diabetes Management
The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.

Weight Loss
A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.

For 20 facts about apples go here.

Just remember: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." There is some truth to that quote, wouldn't you say?

My favorite apple is a tart, juicy Granny Smith. What's your favorite?

Until next time...