Apples can keep the trips to visiting a doctor at a minimum, as they are considered the world's healthiest food. Besides being a quick and portable snack, an apple is full of nutrients.

The nutrients in apples are varied and plentiful. Apples have phytonutrients that help to regulate your blood sugar. Quercetin, which is a natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory, is also found in apples. It has been found that pregnant women who eat four or more apples a week are 50% less likely to have a child that develops asthma by age five.

An apple contains eight to fourteen percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. It protects you from free radicals, toxins from the environment, pollutants, and heals the body's tissues and wounds. The soluble fiber in an apple also can prevent constipation. Apples can reduce the risk of lung cancer, and may prevent Alzheimer's disease as well as macular degeneration.

According to the Environmental Working Group 2011 Report, "Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce,” apples are among the 12 foods in which pesticide residues are found. It might be best to purchase organic apples as no pesticide residues are on organic apples. Other types of apples should be thoroughly washed before eating.

Apple season begins at summer's end in the northern hemisphere. There are over 7,000 varieties as apple trees spread over world regions since their beginnings in eastern Europe and southwestern Asia.

Enjoy an outing, go apple picking and store your apples up to four months in a cool place. Bake some apple muffins or pies, slice and add them to your favorite salad, or put them in a sandwich for extra crunch. Add some protein to your apple slices as a snack by dipping them in peanut butter or almond butter. Some great family memories are created during an apple picking trip or an apple pie baking adventure!
               
An apple will make you feel less hungry than eating applesauce or drinking apple juice, and you won’t be consuming the extra sugars from store bought varieties. An apple is an incredibly healthy snack and will keep your inside and outside glowing. So enjoy this Fall season of delicious apples and be sure to have an apple a day!