All about the Apples
The apple is a deciduous fruit tree of the Rosaceae family, it has more than 2,000 species of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees that are distributed by temperate regions in the world.
Origin of the apple
The apple tree originates from temperate zones of Europe, Turkestan from its western part and from the central part of Asia. It is a fruit that has been consumed and cultivated since ancient times, it is believed that there may be evidence of apple trees in Switzerland and Italy for 4,500 years.
It was brought by the Spanish conquerors in the sixteenth century and from there it spread its cultivation to different parts of the world, it can be said that the apple has been both consumed and cultivated since ancient times and today this fruit tree is the most cultivated around of the world.
Some of the countries that have more apple production are those that have regions of temperate climates, the main productive countries of apples are Europe, the United States, Turkey and China.
The apples have a wide variety for consumption. These are some of the best known:
- Fuji
- Gala (or Royal Gala)
- Golden Red Delicious
- Pink Lady
- Granny Smith
Nutritious properties of apples
This fruit is considered one of the most complete in terms of nutrients that is why its consumption is very important both in adults and children; because your contributions to consume it will give your body both carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and potassium among others, generating wellness and health to your body.
Some of the nutritional properties of this wonderful fruit are:
Water: the water content of this fruit is 85%, that is to say that almost in its entirety it is liquid.
Carbohydrates: these are present in the fruit in the form of fructose, and in smaller amounts we find glucose and sucrose.
Protein and fats: it has few amounts of these components in relation to the others that it has.
Vitamins: we can find in small portions sources of vitamins, how vitamin E or tocopherol, vitamin C and vitamins of group B.
Minerals: we find potassium, zinc in less quantity, manganese, sulfur, fluorine, iodine, boron or selenium.
Fiber: this fruit is rich in fiber content, as it is not only present in the skin of the fruit but in its pulp, also in it we find cellulose and pectin.
Flavonoids: the apple is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin and in tannins, as well as organic acids such as malic acid and tartaric acid.
Benefits for the health of the Apples
Already knowing the nutritional properties of this fruit we can imagine that when consumed provides infinity of benefits for your body. That is why the apple is one of the most cultivated fruits and consumed worldwide.
These benefits that it has make it more appealing to consumers in general.
Some of the components that this fruit possesses, are their antioxidant powers, in addition to being both astringent and laxative depending on how it is consumed.
Antioxidants in the apple are present due to photochemical elements, it contains more in the skin than in its pulp, although in the pulp they are present in smaller quantities. The skin of this fruit has polyphenols (quercetin, flavonoids).
These components neutralize free radicals reducing the damage they can cause to the body, they tend to increase LDL cholesterol, leading to the formation of diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Thanks to its antioxidants the apple can be used in people prone to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, degenerative and even suffering from cancer.
Its potassium content makes it a diuretic fruit, the vitamin C content in the apple it stimulates the immune cells, and reinforces the defenses preventing flu. In addition to caring for blood vessels helping in the healing of wounds, stimulating the formation of collagen.
These and many more benefits have the consumption of the apple for our body, that is why so important the consumption of fruit and the inclusion of this specific fruit in our diet.
