LJ walked into Annie’s office, “what are you doing, babes?”

Annie smiled at him as she bit into her mid-day snack, “I’m thinking about our next food travel adventure. She looked at the apple she was eating and held it up. “Since it is fall, and that means apple season, I’ve been thinking about the awesomeness of apples. I am sure you know how convenient it is to carry one wherever you go. A handy apple helps avoid getting hungry and making poor food choices. Would you like to know more about the nutritional value of apples, especially Granny’s?”

LJ reached for one in the bowl on Annie’s desk. “Okay, I’m all ears,” he said as he bit into it.

Annie’s laughed, “apples are one of the best sources of soluble and insoluble fiber. Both are important for a healthy digestive system and preventing various diseases. Soluble fiber slows digestion, helping you feel full longer, which can lead to weight loss and may help prevent the onset of diabetes. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools aiding food’s smoother and faster passing through your stomach and intestines. It is essential to eat the whole apple because its skin is a rich source of insoluble fiber, and its flesh is of soluble fiber.

Did you know the first green apple was cultivated by Maria Ann “Granny” Smith in New South Wales, Australia, in 1868? It is the apple with the most potent nutrient punch.

LJ thoughtfully nodded as he chewed, “So what’s so healthy about Granny Smiths compared to other apples?”

“Here are the top 6 benefits of this super fruit:

1. Anti-Aging and Cancer fighter: Granny’s have the highest level of polyphenols of all apples. Phenolic compounds are also known as flavonoids, which researchers believe help reduce your risk of cancer. Flavonoids also have antioxidant effects, meaning they help fight the effects of aging by destroying free radicals before radicals can cause harmful damage to your body.
2. Supports weight loss: The calorie and carbohydrate content is 10% lower in green apples than red apples, aiding in weight loss and maintenance. Its high fiber content helps eliminate the additives in unhealthy food, slows down digestion, relieves constipation, and prevents diarrhea by soaking up excess water in the stool.
3. Healthy Skin and Scalp: Resveratrol, another polyphenol found in Granny’s, promotes hydrated and glowing skin. Quercetin in the apple is a plant compound with antioxidant and antihistamine properties which research has shown to decrease eczema inflammation.
4. Vision protector: Vitamins A and C protect against night blindness and other age-related vision problems. Green apple’s skin is loaded with A, which protects the eye’s conjunctiva (white area) and defends against infections. Vitamin C promotes rapid cell rejuvenation helping to protect the eye’s lens and healing cornea wounds faster.
5. Liver Detoxifier: Over 80 million Americans have non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (FLD) linked to obesity and diabetes. This disease leads to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Because obesity and diabetes are on the rise nationally and worldwide, FLD is rapidly becoming one of the most common diagnoses for liver transplants in the world. Diet and exercise are currently the most effective way to help reverse the amount of fat in the liver. Researchers discovered that ursolic acid, a natural substance found in apple peel, reduced obesity, glucose intolerance, and fatty liver disease while increasing muscle mass and brown fat (good), showing its positive use for obesity-related illnesses.
6. Joint health: Collagen in apples has anti-inflammatory powers, which is vital to joint health. Research shows eating an apple or more a day helped reduce arthritis and knee pain.”

Annie and LJ are a fictional couple. Their storyline promotes healthy eating and earth-friendly practices.