Apples will become your go-to snack as a result of this.
So many of us have been advised that when we're hungry, we should grab an apple. They're a very adaptable fruit, so they may be the perfect go-to whether you're having a full meal, looking for dessert, or need a snack to tide you over. Have you ever wondered why this particular fruit was chosen out of all of the others?
We talked to dietitians and nutritionists to find out what makes apples so remarkable. Their response? It has to do with the numerous health benefits of soluble fibre, a dietary component found in apples.
What is Soluble Fibre?
It's relatively simple: dietary fibre is divided into two kinds. The first is soluble fibre (which dissolves in water once it enters the body), and the second is insoluble fibre (which does not dissolve in water once it enters the body) (meaning it instead remains whole). The soluble fibre in the body has a gel-like consistency, according to the Mayo Clinic. This soluble fibre is responsible for various health advantages, and apples are the highest in soluble fibre.
When you eat an apple, you get a surge of soluble fibre, which has many health benefits.
We had it broken down for us by the specialists. The soluble fibre in apples is responsible for "reducing total and bad cholesterol and increasing your heart's health," according to Amy Goodson, MS RD, CSSD, LD, author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook. She says one of the most important benefits of eating soluble fibre from apples is improved heart health.
Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, can explain how soluble fibre can eliminate cholesterol from the body.
"By adhering to cholesterol and draining it out of the body, this type of fibre helps the body get rid of it," adds Best.
This is why soluble fibre's gel-like nature is so important: it allows it to attach to substances like cholesterol. "These nutrients are predominantly contained in the peel," according to Best, so if you're searching for a reason not to peel your apples, this is it.
According to Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, a Colorado-based registered dietitian and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices, another health benefit of soluble fibre is that it "slows down the digestion process and promotes appetite-suppressing signals in the body."
This means that eating an apple will make you feel filled for longer, making it an ideal snack for weight loss. Burgess advocates mixing apples with a protein like peanut butter, cheese, or nuts to increase apples' satiety further.
The soluble fibre in apples isn't the only advantage of eating them.
While the soluble fibre boost is one of the key reasons you should eat apples daily, apples also provide a slew of additional health advantages that will nourish your body in other ways.
"Apples are abundant in antioxidants and vitamin C, both of which can help reduce inflammation and even prevent cancer," explains Megan Byrd, RD of The Oregon Dietitian.
If the soluble fibre boost wasn't enough, apples could also help with inflammation and cancer prevention. There's little doubt that the next time you're rummaging around your kitchen for something to eat, you'll reach for an apple.