An Apple A Day

That old wive’s tale is true; insomuch as an apple a day can at least help to support heart health.

Apples were associated with a lower risk of death from both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease in the Iowa Women’s Health Study, which has been tracking 34,000-plus women for nearly 20 years and found that frequent apple eaters had the lowest risk of suffering strokes compared with non apple eaters.

Researchers suggest that the strong antioxidant flavonoid compounds found in apples including quercetin, play a key role by preventing “bad” LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and triggering a series of events that result in the buildup of plaque in arteries, as well as inhibiting inflammation.

Apples are also rich in pectin, a form of soluble fiber known to help lower cholesterol, and they provide a decent amount of vitamin C.

Finally, with the abundance of apples nearly everywhere you look, they’re quite likely one of the easiest foods to grab and go; simply pair with a handful of raw walnuts and you’ve got yourself a healthy snack to tide yourself over to the next dose of kale and salmon.