Apples are typically considered a healthy food option. They’re rich in vitamin C and have lots of fiber. Just as with any other food, however, you can also have too much of a good thing. One of the common problems that apples may cause is a change in bowel movements and bathroom habits. If you’re thinking about adding more of this delicious fruit to your diet, here are some of the key pros and cons to consider before doing so.
What Are the Pros of Apples?
1. There are multiple varieties to meet personal tastes.
Apples come in different sizes, flavors, and even colors today. This means there is a type of apple that can suit most personal preferences. For those who like somewhat tart fruits, the Granny Smith apple is a solid option. Galas are a firm apple, while the Washington Delicious is more of a soft apple. One of the most popular types is the Honeycrisp, which offers sweet crunchiness.
2. They are highly affordable.
Even the most popular varieties of apples are generally priced below $2 per pound in the United States. For larger apples like Honeycrisps that are popular, this may mean a single apple could cost $3.50 based on its size. This may cost a little more than the preserved snacks that some households enjoy, but is still an affordable way to have a healthy dietary option that won’t destroy the grocery budget.
3. They are low in calories, but high in carbohydrates.
The average medium-sized apple is going to contribute about 100 calories to a person’s daily intake. 90% of an apple’s calories generally come from carbohydrates. This means people can receive a lot of natural energy from this fruit without taking on a large caloric intake at the same time. The high fiber content also helps to keep blood sugar spikes down, making it possible for people even with some challenging health issues to incorporate this fruit into their diet.
4. Apples are filled with antioxidants.
There are many things in this world that will attempt to destroy the cells in a person’s body every day. Antioxidants are one of the things that can help to neutralize these things before they attack cells. They neutralize free radicals and apples are packed full of them. Different apples have different concentrations of antioxidants, so specific health needs can sometimes be met by apple choice.
5. Apple skins help to create a protein that is called maspin.
What is maspin? It’s a protein that is made by the body which helps to suppress cancer cells that create prostate and breast cancer. This is one reason why many people still like to say that an apple a day can keep the doctor away. In literal terms, it could even be said that an apple a day keeps the radiation therapy away.
6. They may help to fight the natural aging process.
Concentrates of apple juice have found to improve the production of acetylcholine. It’s a neurotransmitter that helps to insulate a person’s overall cognitive performance. Over time, the damage that aging causes can be prevented or the symptoms of damage alleviated with consistent consumption of apples.
What Are the Cons of Apples?
1. Many apples are treated with pesticides and fungicides before they come to market.
Apple trees are notorious for being the home of common pests. Insects, spiders, worms, and other creatures all love to live in apple trees because there is so much good food that is available to them. Many apple trees also attract fungal growth over time that can ruin the fruit. This means many orchards and commercial producers spray their trees with chemicals to allow the fruit to grow. Those chemicals can then be in or on the fruit.
2. Some apples may be coated with wax.
It may be a food grade wax that is added to the skin of the apple to keep their appearance fresh, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing to eat. Imagine having a layer of wax on top of a layer of chemicals on top of the skin of the apple you just took a bite out of recently. You can’t taste them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Those chemicals then go into your digestive system and become part of your body. Not a good thing.
3. There can be a lengthy adjustment period.
People who aren’t used to eating products that have a high fiber content will find themselves visiting the bathroom for awhile later in the day after eating an apple. This side effect can help to loosen up constipation, but it can also be a lengthy problem for some people as well. The digest system will typically adjust in a day or two, but for some people it may be a week or two.
4. Apples by themselves are a rather boring food.
Most people aren’t just content to eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away. Over time apples become boring. They can be transformed into various other foods, such as apple pie, apple crumble, or applesauce, but these transformations are not necessarily very healthy. Apples are typically turned into high caloric content desserts that might seem healthy on the surface, but will actually destroy a person’s diet.
5. They may not meet the requirements of a vegan or vegetarian diet.
At the heart of this issue is the type of wax that has been placed on the skin of the apple to preserve it. Some waxes are made from carnuba, but food-grade shellac is also used. Shellac is created from insects, which may violate the dietary conditions that someone has set forth for themselves. Many may be eating apples without realize what they’re actually eating.
6. People can develop allergies to apples without even realizing it.
Certain tree pollens have similar proteins in them that apples have. This means someone who is allergic to the pollen may find themselves allergic to apples as well. If an apple allergy does develop, then other foods typically become problematic as well, including nuts, vegetables, and other fruits. A severe enough allergic reaction may cause swelling in the throat, difficulty breathing, and other possibly life-threatening conditions.
The pros and cons of apples show that they are an appropriate food to add to most diets. For those concerned about the wax that is on grocery store apples, consider shopping for organic products or purchase directly from a local orchard. That way all needs can be effectively met because the disadvantages have been appropriately considered.