Apple Day
The first Apple Day was celebrated in 1990 in the old Apple Market in London’s very own Covent Garden. Apple Day takes place on 21 October every year to celebrate the harvest of apples and the orchards that produce them. It also honours the variety and richness of the UK’s local produce. Apple Day is now an important date in the calendar for many and entails various events that are apple-solutely fantastic!
An apple a day…
Why are apples so special and have an entire day dedicated to them? Well, the famous proverb “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” may have some truth to it!
Let’s get to the core of this…
Apples are deliciously nutritious and can be a great addition to a healthy balanced diet. Apples are 86% water meaning they are a natural source of hydration that can keep you feeling refreshed! They contain a plethora of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium which are important for maintaining good health. Apples are also rich in antioxidant compounds called polyphenols.
Gut friendly – loving your gut
Did you know that apples are gut-friendly? A standard medium apple with its skin has around 1.8g of fibre. Fibre helps keep you fuller for longer, encourages regular bowel movements. In addition, they can support your long-term gut health by promoting the growth of gut-friendly bacteria in your large intestine. Maintaining good gut health is important for your immune system. Can you see that the famous apple proverb just might have some truth to it?
An alternative snack
An apple contributes one portion of the recommended 5-a-day of fruit and vegetables. They are low-calorie foods that only have around 77kcals per portion, meaning they are a better snack option compared to high-sugar and high-salt alternatives like crisps and chocolate!
Getting creative with apples
There are many different types of apples that grow throughout the year, each has a different flavour profile – so find out which is your favourite! Apples are so versatile too and can be added to any meal, bringing their perfect sweetness to a dish. Just think of…apple & cinnamon, apple & peanut butter, apple & cheese or apple & pork. So, this Apple Day whip up your favourite apple dishes and reap their nutritious benefits! A round of apple-ause…
References
British Apples and Pears (2018) Apples – Nutritional Composition. Available at: https://britishapplesandpears.co.uk/health-nutrition/apples-nutritional-composition/ (Accessed: October 2020).
Makki et al. (2018) ‘The Impact of Dietary Fiber on Gut Microbiota in Host Health and Disease’, Cell Host & Microbe 23(6):705-715.
Public Health England (2015) Composition of foods integrated dataset (CoFID). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/composition-of-foods-integrated-dataset-cofid (Accessed: October 2020).
Sanders, T. (2019) Great British Apples Health Research Review. Available at: https://britishapplesandpears.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tom_Sanders_-_Apple_Health_Review.pdf (Accessed: October 2020).