More Apples... to get Healthy & Ripped!?

 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

 

That's not just an old saying.  It seems fairly regularly a study is released showing just how good these sweet, crisp treats can be.  The health benefits of apples go one and on; benefitting overall health, helping with weight loss and might even get you ripped!

 

Last week I explained my love for apples, and how they are high in fiber, antioxidants, phytonutrients.  They also have almost no fat, sodium or cholesterol.  Plant rich diets, like those including apples, are linked to lower incidences of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

 

Here's a weight loss tip from the CDC:

Losing weight doesn't have to mean eating less food. By substituting fruits and vegetables for higher calorie foods, you can eat the same amount of food with fewer calories. Instead of grabbing a high-calorie snack from the vending machine, try packing some cut-up vegetables or fruit from home. One snack-size bag of chips (one ounce) has the same number of calories as a small apple, one cup of whole strawberries AND one cup of carrots with one-fourth cup of low-calorie dip.

While losing weight will increase definition of your muscles, apples also have another trick.  Not up it's sleeve, but in the skin!  Ursolic Acid is a chemical found in apple peel that helps give it a shiny appearance. It also was found, by University of Iowa researcher Dr. Christopher Adams, to help mice build muscle and increase their grip strength while also preventing muscle atrophy.  Further studies will look at effects on humans, and determining effective dosing.

The media picked this story up a while back, and as typical, ran with it :)  You can read more of those articles here:

• Daily Mail - UK
• Gizmodo
• Shape

I bet the concentrations needed for incredible hulking muscles will end up requiring large amounts of apple peel being consumed.  But some can't hurt, and with all of the other benefits of apples, you can bet eating apples will do you good!

Have you ever wondered how bad it would be to eat an apple without washing it? 

Head over to Rodale's Organic Life for their answer.

 

Many varieties thrive here in the Midwest, and with commercial apples at or near the top of the "Dirty Dozen" list each year for residual pesticides, growing a tree or two in your own backyard is a wonderful idea! 

 

We still have a couple good weeks of tree planting season.  I will give a great deal on planting apple trees the month of October! 

 

How about a Two Tree Fruiting Wall with Five supporting species for $597+tax? 

Can you believe it's October already!?!?! 
Maybe you can 'bob' for apples at your next Halloween party.

Have a great week!