Apple

Description

One of the most popular fruits, apples are sweet fleshy fruit that are chock-full of nutrition. This juicy and delicious apple while often eaten as a snack, they’re also used in a variety of dessert recipes.

Apples come in a variety of shapes, colors, flavors and they can grow to a maximum of 4 inches. Apples first grow from flowers and contain multiple seeds. Only edible part of apple is considered as fruit.

Wild ancestors

The original wild ancestor of modern apple was Malus sieversii, found growing wild in the mountains of Central Asia in southern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and northwestern China. Thousands of apple trees are still found in the forests of those areas. It has happened naturally without cultivation.

History

Because of the genetic variability in Central Asia, this region is generally considered the center of origin for apples. The apple is thought to have been domesticated 4000–10000 years ago in the Tien Shan Mountains, and then to have travelled along the Silk Road to Europe, with hybridization and introgression of wild crab-apples from Siberia, the Caucasus.

There was substantial apple production in the European classical antiquity and grafting was certainly known then. Grafting is an essential part of modern domesticated apple production, to be able to extend the best cultivars.

Apple has been cultivated in Asia and Europe for thousands of years. Later it spread to many more countries, including North America. In the 17th century, colonists introduced apples to North America. The only apples native in North America is the crab-apple.

Cultivars

More than, 7,500 cultivars of the culinary or eating apples are known. Some of them are vastly important economically as commercial products. Though the most are not suitable for mass production. Use for eating means, that is consumed raw, rather than cooked.

Different cultivars of apples are available for temperate and subtropical climates. They come in different colors like as yellow,red, and green. There are plenty of apple varieties to choose from and they can range from tart and crisp to sweet and tender. The taste mainly depends on its acidity level. Here are some types of apples to look out for the best enjoy them from the supermarket.

1. MCINTOSH - Tender and tangy, 2. GRANNY SMITH - Tart and juicy, 3. GOLDEN DELICIOUS - Sweet and buttery, 4. HONEYCRISP - Sweet and crunchy, 5. PINK LADY/CRIPPS PINK-Acidic and refreshing, 6. FUJI-Sweet and firm, 7. GALA - Sweet and juicy, 8. EMPIRE - Crisp and juicy, 9. BRAEBURN - Tart-sweet and crisp, 10. RED DELICIOUS - Sweet and juicy, 11. CORTLAND - Tart and creamy, 12. WINESAP - Complex and aromatic, 13. ENVY - Sweet and crunchy, 14. JONAGOLD - Sweet and tangy, 15. JAZZ - Sweet and dense, 16. HIDDEN ROSE - Tart-sweet with pink-colored flesh, 17. HOLSTEIN - Acidic and soft, 18. AMBROSIA - Sweet and floral, 19. OPAL - Crunchy and tangy, 20. LIBERTY - Sweet and juicy, 21. MUTSU - Tangy and sharp, 22. GRAVENSTEIN - Intense and creamy, 23. NORTHERN SPY - Tart and crunchy, 24. BALDWIN-Spicy and tart-sweet, 25. CAMEO - Tart-sweet and crisp.

Production

Every year, over 87 million tons of apples are produced in the world. Apples produced in China are 49%, which is about 42.4 million tons, in the United States are about 5 million tons and apples produced in Turkey are about 3.8 million tons. Besides, top apple producing countries include Poland, Iran, Italy, France, Russia, Germany and India.

Nutrients

Apples containing antioxidants, vitamins, dietary fiber, minerals and a range of other nutrients. A raw apple is 86% water and 14% carbohydrates, with a small amount of fat and protein. A raw apple with skin weighing 100 grams provides 52 calories and a mediocre content of dietary fiber. One medium-sized apple contains nearly 15% of your daily vitamin C requirements and 17% of your fiber needs.

Uses

All parts of the apple fruit, including the skin, except for the seeds, are suitable for human consumption. The core, from stem to bottom, containing the seeds, is generally not eaten and, discarded. Apples are often eaten raw. Cultivars bred for raw consumption are called dessert or table apples.

Apples are consumed in several ways such as juice, raw in salads, baked in pies, as an important ingredient in many desserts, cooked into sauces and spreads like apple butter, and other baked dishes.

Sometimes used also as an ingredient in savory foods, such as sausage and stuffing. Apples are also made into apple butter and apple jelly, that are often baked or stewed and are also cooked in some meat dishes.

Besides, apples are milled or pressed to produce apple juice, which can be drunk unfiltered or filtered. Filtered apple juice is often concentrated and frozen, then reconstituted later and consumed. Apple juice fermented to make cider, ciderkin, and vinegar. For manufacturing cosmetics, apple seed oil is obtained by pressing apple seeds.

To preserve apples and apple products, apples are canned, dried or frozen. Canned or frozen apples are eventually baked into pies or various cooked dishes. Apple juice or cider is bottled.

Health benefits

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away", this proverb addressing the supposed health benefits of the fruit. A review into the varieties of apple fruits and their benefits found that, they contain many types of strong antioxidants. Consuming apples has been linked to a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, constipation and other chronic health conditions.

If you want to lose weight and get a dose of vitamin C, which can also boost the immune system and help defend the body from infections and diseases, then apples are a hard fruit and a great snack, that improve your digestive system.

1. May lower cholesterol

Apples contain pectin, a study found that eating pectin-rich raw apples had a cholesterol-lowering effect among healthy people. But drinking apple juice did not have the same impact. That means the fiber in apples that helps reduce cholesterol.

2. May protect against diabetes

Apples are low on the glycaemic index thanks to their fibre ingredient. This, together with their high flavonoid content, can help to improve insulin sensitivity, which is important both for weight management and preventing diabetes. In addition, those who consume the most apple fiber have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

3. May prevent cancer

Apple fruits are a good source of antioxidants. Oxidative stress causes cell damage and can lead to the development of certain cancers and antioxidant-rich foods can help prevent the oxidative stress. Consuming apples can help lower risk of lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer among other types. Fiber can also help reduce the risk of colon cancer as well.

4. May protect against heart disease

Apples are highly rich in polyphenols, protective plant compounds, one of which is a flavonoid called quercetin. Research found that those with higher quercetin levels through eating apples had a lower risk of several chronic diseases including heart disease and even asthma.

Apples contain many nutrients like fiber that may lower the risk of stroke. The people who consume the most fiber appear to have a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Also, apple fiber appears to help manage blood pressure, which can be reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. May be beneficial for bone health

Fruit and vegetable intake to be linked with greater bone density and improved bone health. Findings from a study on healthy women suggested apples, in particular, can minimise the amount of calcium lost from the body and hence improve bone strength.

6. May prevent obesity

Studies have shown that pectin extracted from apples can help regulate the gut microbiome, which can help prevent obesity and other inflammatory disorders. Fiber can also help a person feel for longer time, making them less likely to overeat. This can help optimize the health of people with obesity.

Cosmetic Benefits

1. Facial care

Applying apple pulp on the face cures and improves acne.

2. Eye strain

Putting apple pulp on the eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes reduces eye strain.

3. Hair care

Applying apple paste on the hair follicles, removing dead cells from the scalp. Also, making a paste with apple leaves and using it as a shampoo cures dandruff, prevents hair loss and promotes hair growth.

Discretion

1. Allergy

Apples, contain natural chemicals called salicylates. Some people are sensitive to these compounds and may experience an allergic reaction, including skin rash, vomiting, abdominal pain and swelling.

One form of apple allergy, is called birch-apple syndrome and found in people who are also allergic to birch pollen. The variety of apple, maturity and storage conditions may change the amount of allergen present in individual fruits. Long storage times may increase the amount of proteins that cause birch-apple syndrome.

Reactions, which entail oral allergy syndrome, usually involve itching and inflammation of the mouth and throat, but in rare cases can also include life-threatening anaphylaxis.

2. Toxicity of seeds

Apple seeds contain small amounts of amygdalin. Ingesting small amounts of apple seeds causes no ill effects, but eating of extremely large doses can cause adverse reactions. It can take several hours before the poison takes effect.

3. Pesticides

Some consumers, who are concerned about pesticides, can opt for organically grown apples. Also, apples can be washed in boiling hot water for 20 to 30 minutes before eating to reduce the risk.