Women, although you may have heard sayings like "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" countless times, can anyone really tell you the specific benefits of apples for women?
Reason 1: Eating apples can help with weight loss
In a study conducted at the University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, overweight middle-aged women were divided into three groups. Each group followed a low-calorie diet and ate either 3 apples, 3 pears, or 3 oat cookies (all three foods had an equal amount of dietary fiber). After 12 weeks, the women who ate apples and pears lost 1.22 kg, while the weight of the women who ate oat cookies showed little change. As a high-fiber, low-calorie food, eating apples regularly helps control hunger and reduce calorie intake, aiding in weight loss. Reason 2: Nutrients and phytochemicals in apples help fight cancer Female obesity not only affects daily work, life, and appearance but also increases the risk of cancer. A Japanese research team followed 15,054 adult women for 9 years and found that 668 of them developed cancer. Statistical analysis revealed that compared to women of normal weight, overweight or obese women had a 29%-47% higher risk of developing cancer. The higher a woman's Body Mass Index (BMI), the greater her risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and gallbladder cancer. The study suggests that being overweight or obese is a risk factor for cancer in women. Is there a way for women to both lose weight and prevent cancer? Yes, by regularly eating apples. Italian researchers investigated the diets of 629 cancer patients and found that detailed analysis showed that eating more than one apple a day, compared to less than one, could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer by 9%-42%. In addition to traditional nutrients and dietary fiber, apples are rich in flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants. Moreover, compared to other fruits, apples have a higher proportion of free-form flavonoids, making them easier for the body to absorb. These natural antioxidants can protect genetic material DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) from oxidative stress damage and have a strong anti-cancer effect. Reason 3: Eating one apple a day (preferably with the skin on) can also prevent stroke Apples are beneficial for health and are a guardian for women's health. It's best to eat apples with the skin, as the apple skin contains a higher concentration of flavonoids and has stronger antioxidant activity, which can help prevent strokes in middle-aged and elderly women. However, because apples may be grown with large amounts of pesticides, if not washed carefully before eating, the chemical fertilizers and pesticides left on the surface can lead to various diseases, including leukemia. Therefore, if you cannot guarantee the apples are "organic," it's best to wash and peel them before eating. Reason 4: Apples contain multiple elements that effectively prevent heart disease Apples are rich in folic acid, a major component of vitamin B, which helps prevent heart disease. The antioxidants in apples are beneficial for heart health. The fiber, pectin, antioxidants, and other components in apples can lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in the body, delaying the time it takes for "bad" cholesterol to clog blood vessels compared to normal circumstances. The earlier "bad" cholesterol clogs blood vessels, the greater the likelihood of developing heart disease. Reason 5: Eating more apples can prevent osteoporosis Apples contain the mineral elements boron and manganese, which can strengthen bones. A U.S. study found that boron can significantly increase the concentration of estrogen and other compounds in the blood, which can effectively prevent calcium loss. Medical experts believe that if menopausal women can consume 3 grams of boron daily, their rate of calcium loss can be reduced by 46%. Eating more apples during menopause is beneficial for calcium absorption and utilization, helping to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Reason 6: Apples can neutralize acidic substances in the body 70% of diseases occur in women with acidic body constitutions, and apples are alkaline foods. Eating apples can quickly neutralize excess acidic substances in the body (including acids produced by exercise and acidic metabolic products from acidic foods like fish, meat, and eggs), enhancing physical strength and disease resistance.