The Surprising Health Benefits of Apples and Bananas
Most of us think we know everything there is to know about apples and bananas, but these healthy fruits have surprising health benefits that might just surprise you! For example.
apples are rich in antioxidants and potassium, while bananas provide more potassium than even bananas Here are some other benefits you may not have known about read on to learn more
Did you know eating apples can help prevent kidney disease.
According to a study by Baylor University, people who ate one apple a day had a 33 percent reduced risk of developing kidney disease than those who did not eat apples.
While scientists aren't exactly sure how apples help prevent kidney disease, they believe it's because they are rich in potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure.
This is also why bananas can help keep your heart healthy; they contain potassium too. Potassium is important for keeping blood pressure low.
Studies have shown that people with high blood pressure are more likely to have lower levels of potassium in their bodies than people with normal blood pressure levels.
As you might expect, eating lots of foods rich in potassium may be helpful if you're trying to control your blood pressure.
That includes fruits like bananas and oranges as well as vegetables like potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. But don't just reach for any old banana the ones that are ripe enough to eat will be sweetest (and healthiest).
Avoid unripe green ones, which won't offer any of these benefits. So go ahead—reach for an apple or banana today! You'll be glad you diddid! Did you know eating apples can help prevent cancer.
The flavonoids found in apples may help reduce your risk of lung cancer. A research team from Indiana University School of Medicine conducted a meta-analysis on five observational studies.
And concluded that there was strong evidence to support the idea that regularly consuming flavonoid-rich foods reduces lung cancer risk.
The most common flavonoids consumed through diet include anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, catechins and quercetin. These compounds have been linked to anti-inflammatory properties as well as anticancer effects.
Did you know eating bananas makes your bones stronger
When you eat bananas, you’re getting almost 20% of your daily dose of vitamin C, which contributes to bone growth. However, that’s not all bananas can do for your bones.
According to a study by researchers at Loma Linda University in California, eating two bananas per day may reduce risk factors associated with osteoporosis.
The scientists found that vitamin B6 found in bananas reduces harmful molecules that cause bone deterioration. They also revealed that potassium in bananas increased calcium absorption by 10%.
When you pair all these benefits with how easy it is to snack on a banana (no prep needed!), it makes sense why they may help strengthen bones as well as fight disease like cancer and heart diseasedisease.
And if you thought bananas were only good for your bones, think again! This fruit is also rich in vitamins A and E, which promote healthy skin and hair.
So next time you need a midday snack or want to incorporate more fruits into your diet, reach for a banana—you might be surprised at just how good they are for you! #ApplesAreGoodForYouToo:
Not only are apples great for your health, but there are tons of ways to enjoy them! Whether you prefer crunchy applesauce or apple pie, apples offer plenty of health benefits.
One benefit of apples is their fiber content. One medium-sized apple contains 3 grams of fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements and helps keep cholesterol levels low.
If you’re looking to add more fiber to your diet without adding extra calories, try swapping out white bread for whole wheat bread when making sandwiches or swap white rice for brown rice when making dinner.
Apples are also full of antioxidants such as quercetin and flavonoids that can slow down cell damage from free radicals produced during metabolism called oxidation.
Did you know eating fruits like apple can help treat diabetes.
Eating fruits can help treat diabetes as they contain a sugar called fructo-oligosaccharide which slows down absorption of sugar into your bloodstream.
This can result in better regulation of insulin levels. Additionally, apples are rich in soluble fiber which delays stomach emptying and thus helps keep your blood sugar stable by slowing digestion.
Besides these, apples also contain antioxidant phytonutrients which have anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit people with diabetes or at risk for developing iittiitt.
Finally, there is evidence to suggest that compounds found in apple peel such as ursolic acid may activate AMPK (5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) – an enzyme involved in fat metabolism and glucose homeostasis.
Ursolic acid activates AMPK through phosphorylation, making it easier for muscle cells to use fat as fuel during exercise. So start eating more apples! They’re good for you!
A banana a day keeps stroke away: Bananas are great sources of potassium, vitamin B6 and manganese.
These nutrients play an important role in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, especially when consumed together with other potassium-rich foods like sweet potatoes and leafy greens.
In fact, bananas can be considered one of nature’s best sources of potassium since 100 gms provide about 422 mg or 10% RDA (recommended daily allowance).
A study has shown that regular consumption of bananas can reduce systolic blood pressure by up to 6 mmHg without any adverse effects on heart rate or rhythmicity.
Other health benefits of eating banana and apple
Some research has linked eating bananas to higher antioxidant levels in your blood, though more studies are needed to confirm that theory.
However, you shouldn’t base your food choices on antioxidants alone. A medium banana contains nearly 30 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement, which can help boost your immune system and fight infection.
One medium apple is filled with pectin—the same type of fiber found in certain heart-healthy commercial drugs like colestipol. Pectin helps reduce cholesterol absorption in your intestines by as much as 20 percent or more, according to some studies .
While not a diet food itself, apples also contain plenty of water, which keeps you hydrated so you feel fuller faster—helping you control portion sizes betterbetterbetterbetter.
In addition, apples have been shown to reduce inflammation and help prevent cancer cells from growing. The high amount of quercetin (an antioxidant) in apples may be responsible for these anti-cancer effects.
Bananas are rich in potassium , an essential mineral that regulates blood pressure and muscle contractions throughout your body. Potassium is especially important for athletes because it plays a key role in helping muscles recover after exercise.
Both fruits are low in calories, making them perfect snacks for weight loss too! The average large banana contains just under 100 calories while an average apple weighs roughly 80 calories.
If you're looking to lose weight safely but quickly , try adding one of these fruits to each meal instead of processed junk foods or sugary desserts They'll fill you up without derailing your progress! And they won't cost you an arm and a leg either--even if they were organic, they'd still only run about $2-$3 per serving.
That's cheaper than most convenience foods out there! When shopping for apples and bananas, always go organic if possible. Commercial produce growers use dozens of different pesticides to grow their crops.
Many conventional pesticides have been banned due to their links to cancer; even worse are those pesticides classified as possible carcinogens or likely carcinogens.
Eating conventionally grown produce exposes us all--especially children--to dangerous chemicals that might cause long-term health problems like infertility, birth defects, and even cancers later in life.