There may be a reason why the evil queen picked the apple to poison Snow White or why it is thought to be the "forbidden fruit" that Eve used to tempt Adam in the Bible. Apples have enticed humans throughout culture, religion and history. They are still highly sought after today. In fact, the apple is the second most popular fruit in the United States, after oranges. A whopping 7500 varieties of the crisp fruit are grown worldwide (2500 of which are from the U.S.) with varying shades of red, yellow and green, with tastes ranging from sweet to tart.
The familiar adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is good advice, especially when it comes to heart disease and bowel regularity. Besides containing no fat, sodium or cholesterol, apples are a great source of fiber, which diminishes the risk of heart attack and stroke by lowering cholesterol, according to a 2003 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Try eating two large apples a day and you may see your cholesterol lowered by up to 16 percent! Apples are also full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many of these benefits are found in the skin, so put away that peeler!
What to Look for
Looking at an apple's skin will help you determine its ripeness. Apples that are not completely red will have swaths of yellow and green undertones that are called "ground color." If that ground color that is too green, the apple will be more tart in taste and less ripe. Undertones that are too yellow point to an overripe apple that is mealy to the touch.
Golden and Red Delicious apples are typically sweet in taste. Pippins and Granny smith are more tart varieties, typically used in desserts and pies because they retain their taste better during the baking process.
To store an apple, keep it in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag to allow moisture to pass through.
Common Pitfalls
If you eat too many apples your stomach may feel a little bloated. That's because the fruit is known to cause gas because it contains sorbitol, a sugar that is actually sold as a laxative.
If canned apples, apple juices and applesauce are also to your taste, make sure you read the nutrition labels on the back because the products may contain a significant amount of sugar and preservatives.
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