Ingredient: Apples

Royal Gala apples in a pile. All of the apples are red with a slight yellow hue to them. Several apples sit at an angle or on their side, while others sit perfectly straight. There almost forty apples in view.

There are over 7,500 known varieties of apples, but sadly, only around 12 varieties reach our supermarket shelves. If you have trees heavy with apples, take the opportunity to enjoy their deliciousness and also benefit from their fantastic health benefits.

The saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ may come from the fact that apples contain vitamin C, which helps you have a healthy immune system. Apples are also a rich source of antioxidants, which can help to keep pain and inflammation at bay. The soluble fibre found in apples can help to support gut health and peristalsis, as well as help you feel more satiated and fuller for longer.

Apple pectin, primarily found in apple peel, has been shown to reduce the presence of pollutants and heavy metals, while also helping to lower cholesterol levels.

What may be surprising is that apples are also good for your bones, as research has found that those who eat apples have better bone density. The antioxidants in apples can help to increase new bone formation, particularly in postmenopausal women.