Why the Caramel Apple Trend of Fall is Good for You

By Brandi Swieter 

Once fall arrives, store shelves start filling with packages of apples on sticks covered in caramel and nuts. Though caramel isn’t the healthiest option, the sweetness provides a great way to get people to enjoy a nutritious apple treat. Those who may not be as quick to grab an apple for a snack may have a far easier time consuming a caramel apple treat. It gets people eating more fruit than usual and helps them gain the benefits.

Protecting Against Heart Disease

The fiber found in apples helps to protect against heart disease. It works to increase levels of good cholesterol and decrease bad levels. People who consume apples regularly even have a smaller chance of developing high blood pressure. Apples contain a flavonoid known as quercetin which helps lower the risk for a stroke as well.

Aiding in Weight Loss

Apples are low in calories compared to many other snack choices available. Choose one over an unhealthier option and the journey to weightloss can start out well. A medium apple has roughly 95 calories. A 100-calorie snack is the goal, making this a perfect choice.

Fighting Certain Cancers

Antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables, including apples, work to fight certain cancers. Apples are particularly ideal for fighting colorectal cancer, most likely due to the high fiber content that aids digestion.

Improving Brain Health

The brain can be helped by apples as well. Brain health is impacted by the antioxidants within the fruit. They ward off bad cells that harm the mind and cause memory loss and other neurological struggles. Apple juice, in particular, helps to improve levels of certain neurotransmitters, known as acetylcholine. Poor levels are linked to Alzheimer’s, so increasing the numbers of this should help keep symptoms at bay.

Providing Nutrition

When people are in need of better nutrition, one of the best foods they can eat is an apple. Even without the high profile benefits, the fact that apples contain beneficial vitamins and minerals is all that’s needed to make them worthwhile. Apples have Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and fiber that works for many bodily systems.

Apples keep the doctor away as they say, so consume them any way you like, including with caramel, for a nutritious treat. Even after the caramel apples leave the store shelves, consuming the fruit regularly after will bring many benefits to your health. Eat them whole, slice them and dip them in peanut butter, or dice them up in a salad for a tasty treat.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Wilmington, N.C.