Did you know that there are over a thousand varieties of apples in the world? Apples are among the most loved and consumed fruits in every season. Industrial conservation methods make them available throughout the year.
The Property
The famous saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” certainly has a grain of truth, given the numerous beneficial properties of this portentous fruit. The nutrients present in the composition of the apple make it the whole fruit. There are water, fiber, proteins, sugars, and mineral salts in perfect balance in an apple. These characteristics make it the most suitable fruit to start weaning. The intake of apples is also particularly recommended for the elderly, as this fruit stimulates the rejuvenation of the body.
Consuming apples regularly allows our body to keep its tissues vigorous and elastic and guarantees us to consolidate and maintain general physical well-being. Apples are rich in mineral salts essential for the proper functioning of our bodies. Among them, we particularly remember iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. There is also no shortage of vitamins, in particular vitamin A and vitamin C, essential to strengthen our immune system against the ailments of the cold season.
It is incredible how a single fruit can have so many positive effects on our bodies. The apple has anti-anemic and diuretic properties. It can regulate the intestine’s functioning, both in case of colitis and constipation. It works by lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels and can be consumed both by those suffering from cardiovascular problems and by people with diabetes (except for particular contraindications by your doctor). An apple is one of the most suitable fruits in those times of the year, such as summer or autumn when you want to detoxify your body. It works by helping us eliminate waste, including harmful substances from the air we breathe.
This occurs thanks to the high content of pectin, which acts as a chelator on heavy metals, in particular lead and mercury, which accumulate in the polluted air of cities. Recent studies have also highlighted how apples can be an excellent adjuvant in therapies to combat asthma. A further merit point must be recognized for their peel, which should always be consumed, especially when you have the opportunity to taste apples from organic farming.
How To Store Them
We all know the need to wash apples thoroughly, as in the case of any other fruit, before consuming them. However, it is necessary to remember that washing should only take place shortly before the time to taste them to be kept longer. Contact with water facilitates its deterioration. Take this into account when you get hold of a box of apples that you want to save for a long time. Apples can be stored in a cool, dry place away from light for up to a month. It is necessary to check from time to time that there are no rotten apples in your box, which could “infect” those still in good condition.
It is good to remember that fresh apples cannot be frozen. Their pulp can only be stored in the freezer after cooking. Eventually, the apples can be stored in the refrigerator if you need them to remain intact for a few more days. The ideal place to store apples is the cellar, as long as it is not an excessively humid environment. A precaution you should have is to keep the apples away from the potatoes. Apples secrete ethylene, which could accelerate the ripening of potatoes too much, one of the vegetables most sensitive to this natural gas.
How To Use Them
Apples lend themselves to numerous uses in the kitchen. You can make drinks from apples, including ciders, juices, smoothies, and smoothies. They are also the fruits with which it is easier to prepare jams due to their natural pectin content. Adding a few apple slices to other fruit jams will allow you not to use industrial jellifies. The characteristic flavor of apples makes them suitable to be among the ingredients to prepare savory dishes, such as risottos and soups. They can be baked in the oven, making sure to sprinkle them with a bit of lemon juice to prevent them from blackening during cooking.
They are also used to produce apple cider vinegar, helpful in rinsing and gargling to fight inflammation of the mouth and throat, restore shine to the hair by adding it to the last rinse water, or as an adjuvant in ecological housekeeping. Their use in pastry is well known. They are the undisputed protagonists of the classic apple pie, fruit tarts, and strudel. With the pulp of apples, you can get an excellent filling for biscuits. They are delicious, blanched, and sprinkled with cinnamon, but it is also a wonderful habit to consume them raw. An apple at the end of a meal helps to rebalance the stomach pH, favoring digestion.
ALSO READ: GRAPEFRUIT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH – IS IT RECOMMENDED?