Get the most out of apple season with this simple tip
Fall is here, and with it comes apple-picking season. There are few things more enjoyable than a day spent strolling through an orchard with family and friends, the scent of colored leaves hanging in the air. In addition to providing you with an excuse to reap the therapeutic benefits of an afternoon stroll, apples pack a nutritious punch with every crisp bite!
One unpeeled apple about the size of a tennis ball contains:
- About four grams of fiber to help to prevent cardiovascular disease and improve digestive health.
- Small amounts of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant.
- Fructose, the only natural sugar!
And they’re fat free, sodium free and cholesterol free and guilt free, with only 80 calories!
With all of the delicious apple treats available seasonally, here’s how to get the most from nature’s bounty:
“Most of the fiber in an apple comes from the peel and pulp so the more you remove, the more fiber you lose,” said Muna Siddiqi, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Swedish Hospital. “A small apple with peel contains four grams of fiber, compared to two grams of fiber without the peel. Unsweetened applesauce has one gram of fiber and apple juice has zero grams of fiber in ½ a cup. So having an unpeeled apple is more beneficial than having apple sauce or apple juice.”
To schedule a
nutrition counseling appointment at Swedish Hospital, call
773-878-6888.
By David Modica | Published October 14, 2016
