Are they as good for you as your mom thinks?
An apple a day…yeah yeah, you know the rest. But how many calories, exactly, are in an apple—and is that staple your mom packed in your school lunch really that great for you? Experts say yes.
“Apples are the second most consumed fruit, behind bananas, for a reason! They are generally inexpensive, portable, healthy, and delicious,” says Alex Caspero, R.D., author at Delish Knowledge.
If that sugar count makes you do a double take, consider this: The sugar you'd get in an apple is not the same as, say, the 21 grams of sugar you'd get in a Kit Kat bar, says Caspero.
What’s more, the high fiber content in apples means they serve up a healthy dose of prebiotics (undigestible fiber that the "good" bacteria in your gut eat). "Prebiotics may improve gastrointestinal health as well as potentially enhance calcium absorption,” says Caspero.
Eating just one medium apple will earn you 14 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, and 11 percent of your daily value of vitamin C (not shabby). Antioxidants (like vitamins C and A) in apples help prevent excessive free radical damage, says Caspero—and that can have loads of potential health benefits. Case in point: Antioxidants in apples have been shown to protect against cancer and asthma.
Caspero says she snacks on an apple almost every afternoon. For added fiber, protein, and fat, she recommends pairing it with one to two tablespoons of your favorite nut butter. Bonus: The vitamin C in apples helps you better absorb the iron in nut butters, helping you get the most out of your snack.
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