September is here and with it, the start of the harvest season of one of our favorite superfoods (and superfruits!) the apple.
It's no surprise that apples are good for you -- why else would they have earned that "keep the doctor away" reputation? -- but there are a number of lesser-known reasons to pick up a juicy one today.
Some of our favorite health benefits of apples are in the slideshow below.
One medium-sized apple contains about four grams of fiber. Some of that is in the form of pectin, a type of soluble fiber that has been linked to lower levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. That's because it blocks absorption of cholesterol, according to WebMD, helping the body to use it rather than store it.
Apple's wealth of fiber can also keep you feeling full for longer without costing you a lot of calories -- there are about 95 in a medium-sized piece of fruit. That's because it takes our bodies longer to digest complex fiber than more simple materials like sugar or refined grains. Anything with at least three grams of fiber is a good source of the nutrient; most people should aim to get about 25 to 40 grams a day.
