What can an apple a day really do?

I used to work with a guy who always had an apple in his hand.

Always.

Meetings were a symphony of “crunch, crunch, crunch.”

Which is fine. It seemed to be working for him.

He was lean (and mean – but that’s another story).

And he’d clearly glommed on to the adage of “an apple a day.”

To the extreme.

Even now, when I see an apple, I think of him.

I’m just glad he didn’t turn me off of eating apples. They’re just too good for you to pass.

Eating apples regularly is associated with a long list of benefits. And it’s a nice combo when something so good for you also tastes good.

Apples reduce your risk of diabetes, because they’re chock full of phytonutrients that regulate blood sugar. They’re very rich in antioxidants, and more importantly, they’re tops for “free phenolic compounds.”

That means the nutrients aren’t bound to other compounds, so they get into your bloodstream more easily.

They reduce stroke, fight bad breath, prevent asthma attacks, and can help you maintain your weight.

Plus, they drive down C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that when elevated means you’re on the road to heart disease.

And not to compare apples and oranges, but they’re full of vitamin C too, 14% of the Daily Value – though more is better there, because DVs are low as a rule.

I keep a bowl of apples on the counter at all times. Which got me thinking…

Is it better to keep them in the fridge?

It is if you want them to last a little longer, but keeping them on the counter is fine too.

Large apples and ones with a bruise are actually better at room temperature. It takes them longer to get “mealy.”

And one bad apple spoils the bunch? It’s true. If you see one going bad, get it away from the others. Apples throw off ethylene, a gas that causes fruit to ripen.

In short, eating apples regularly is a no-brainer good for you habit. Get yourself a bushel and make a point of eating them regularly.

Just please, do me a favor. Do it with your mouth closed.

I don’t need flashbacks of those meetings with “Johnny Appleseed.”