The nutrients in apples are both comprehensive and easily digested and absorbed by the human body, making them a particularly popular fruit. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to eat apples. If not handled properly, they not only fail to provide health benefits but can even be as harmful as poison.
Cyanide in Apple Cores
It is little known that apple cores contain cyanide. A large accumulation of cyanide in the body can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and rapid breathing. In severe cases, coma may occur. However, there is no need to worry excessively, as the cyanide in apples is mainly present in the core, not in the flesh.
Special reminder: It is a habit for some people to eat the apple core. While this will not immediately lead to poisoning, doing so over the long term is indeed detrimental to your health.
The Potential "Poisoning" Danger of Apples: Coloring Agents for Ripening
These days, people often complain that "fruit doesn't taste like fruit anymore." This is because many fruits are excessively treated with growth hormones, ripening agents, and expanding agents during their growth, or excessive preservatives are used during storage. Even coloring agents, waxing, and bleaching are used for sale. This caters to the consumer mentality of "judging a fruit by its appearance," and these toxic fruits have become a serious public hazard threatening people's health.
The Dangers of Eating Apples: Expanding Agents for Size, Ripening Agents for Color, Preservatives for Freshness. The excessive use of expanding agents, ripening agents, and preservatives can damage the liver.
So, what should you do if there's wax on your apple peel?
Retail fruit vendors may also apply industrial paraffin wax to apples to retain moisture and make them look fresh and appealing for sale.
The wax on apple peels is mainly divided into the following three types:
The first type is the natural fruit wax that apples themselves carry. This is a lipid component, a plant protective layer formed on the apple's surface. It can effectively prevent external microorganisms, pesticides, etc., from entering the flesh, serving a protective function. This does not need to be removed.
The second type is an edible wax artificially added to some imported apples. This "artificial fruit wax" is actually a chitosan substance, mostly extracted from crustaceans like crabs and shellfish. This substance is harmless to the body itself, and its main function is to preserve freshness, preventing apples from rotting during long-distance transportation and prolonged storage. Removing this layer of wax is simple; just rinse it with hot water.
The third type is industrial wax. The mercury and lead it contains may seep from the peel into the flesh, posing a hazard to the human body. The way to identify it is: rub the apple peel surface with your hand or a tissue. If a faint red substance can be wiped off, it may be industrial wax.
From a nutritional perspective, you should choose to eat apples with their peels on, because compared to the flesh, apple peels contain more antioxidants.
Different Apple Colors, Different Health Benefits
Red apples: More beneficial for the heart, improve memory, and maintain the health of the urinary system.
Green apples: More beneficial for strong teeth and bones.
Yellow apples: Can strengthen the human immune system and are also good for preventing certain cancers.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Different colored apples have different focuses for their health benefits.
Red apples benefit the heart: They have a stronger effect in lowering blood lipids and softening blood vessels, and can protect cardiovascular health. The elderly can eat more of them.
Green apples: They have the effect of nourishing the liver and detoxifying, and can help fight depression, making them more suitable for young people to eat. In addition, green apples can also promote teeth and bone growth and prevent gum bleeding.
Yellow apples: They have a very good effect on protecting vision. Office workers who frequently use computers can consume them appropriately.