There are many different varieties of apples, and each of these varieties has their own unique skin color. Along with these differences in skin color come differences in the chemical make up of the skin itself, as the phytonutrient content varies in concentration and types of polyphenols present. For instance, in the United States, Fuji apples have the highest total phenilic and total flavonoid content of any apple. Because of this, it is important to eat a wide variety of apples to ensure that a balance of all of these antioxidant agents is maintained.
Along with being a supercharged source of antioxidants, apples are also high in fiber content. One large apple has 5.7 grams of fiber, which is 30 percent of the minimum amount of daily fiber intake, as listed by the daily values (DV). Diets that are high in fiber have been highly correlated with a reduction in risk of developing heart disease. Thus eating an apple a day provides a delicious snack for both you and your heart. Aside from its link to heart health, the apple, with its supercharged antioxidant content, has also been linked to the prevention of lung cancer, improved pulmonary (lung) function, and the prevention of type II diabetes. So eat an apple a day, and it just may keep the doctor away.
