Introduction: American nutritionists claim that apples are the perfect snack. The latest issue of U.S. Reader's Digest lists five reasons why apples are the perfect snack:
1. A low-calorie choice. An apple contains about 80 calories, making it the best snack in terms of portion size.
2. Stabilizes blood sugar. Eating one apple a day helps control blood sugar, greatly benefiting the body. Research has found that women who eat at least one apple a day have a 28% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than women who don't eat apples.
3. Provides dietary fiber. One medium-sized apple contains 4 grams of dietary fiber, mostly pectin, which helps lower cholesterol.
4. Reduces belly fat. A new study from Rio de Janeiro State University in Brazil found that eating three small apples a day helps women reduce belly fat and lose weight.
5. Three "substitutions." Substitute for dried fruit—add apple slices to oatmeal or other cereals. Substitute for fat—replace three-quarters of the fat in sweet breads, cakes, and chocolate chip cookies with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce. Substitute for pickles—use apple slices instead of pickles in sandwiches. (Chen Xi)