As adults, I think we've all heard the phrase "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples are a delicious fruit, and they're really great for our overall health. Fruits tend to be very acidic foods, even though they're good for us. Are apples alkaline, neutral, or acidic?
Apples fall on the acidic side of the pH scale. The specific pH of apples may vary depending on the type of apple, but no matter what, they'll have an acidic pH. Delicious apples have a pH of 3.9, Golden Delicious apples have a pH of 3.6, and Johnathan apples have a pH of 3.3.
Mcintosh apples typically have a pH of 3.34, and that tart, Granny Smith apple, has a pH of 3.2. Regardless of their acidity, apples are still excellent for people for a variety of reasons.
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Health Benefits of Apples
For the average diet, it's recommended that people have two servings of fruit per day. If you were to eat one apple, you'd be getting about one and a half servings of fruit in one snack.
Apples are rich in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. The skin on apples can be unappealing to most, but if you can handle the texture, leaving it on will give you all the fiber benefits.
Eating apples can help you lose weight; if you're trying, that is. Apples have a lot of fiber and water, making them more filling than some other foods.
One study showed that the participants who ate an apple before a meal felt fuller than people who didn't eat an apple.
That same study showed that those who ate an apple before their meals ate around 200 fewer calories than people who didn't.
As we know, heart disease is the leading killer around the world. Eating apples regularly may be able to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
One component of apples that may contribute to lowering your risk of developing heart disease is that apples have a soluble fiber that can lower your bad cholesterol.
There are also several other components in apples that may be able to help lower your blood pressure.
Apples have been linked to a reduced risk of developing type two diabetes. One study concluded that eating one apple a day showed a 28% decrease in risk of type two diabetes versus not eating any apples.
There is some evidence that eating an apple every other day or a few times a week can have similar effects.
Some health professionals believe that the polyphenols in apples can help prevent tissue damage from beta cells. Beta cells produce insulin and are usually damaged when someone has type two diabetes.
Eating apples can help protect your lungs. Apples are rich in antioxidants that are capable of protecting your lungs from oxidative damage.
In a study of 68,000 people, it was concluded that those who ate a large number of apples had a lower risk of asthma.
The skin on apples can help your immune system and reduce inflammation in various parts of your body. Apples help reduce inflammation and improve your immune system by reducing asthma and allergy attacks.
Will Eating Apples Cause Acid Reflux?
Even though an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this may not be the case for everyone. Due to the acidic nature of apples, some people may feel unwell after eating them.
But on the other side, apples are high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which are all alkaline minerals. Some believe that these minerals can relieve and reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.
Some people will have negative symptoms when eating apples or other apple products, but it may take many apples to feel discomfort from acid reflux.
If you love that delicious tart Granny Smith apple, you may want to be careful if you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn. These apples tend to be more acidic than other apples.
What States Produce the Most Apples?
The United States produces a lot of apples. The top apple-producing states in the country are Washington, Michigan, Virginia, New York, California, and Pennsylvania. Currently, Washington state is still the leading apple producer in the country.
In an average year, Washington will produce about 130 million boxes of apples. That comes out to about 2.3 million tons of apples per year.
They have 175,000 acres of apple orchards where their large quantity of apples comes from. For the most part, all these apples are still picked by hand!
How Long Will it Take For an Apple Tree to Bear Fruit?
There's nothing like having freshly picked apples to eat right off the tree or add to recipes. If you're thinking about planting an apple tree in your yard, it won't grow and bear fruit overnight. Once you plant an apple seed, it can take anywhere from four to five years to begin bearing fruit.
If you're planting a standard-sized apple tree, you may not have fruit for eight years, whereas with a dwarf apple tree, you can see fruit in three to five years.
Do you know that delicious fall and winter beverage that warms your soul? Have you ever wondered how many apples it takes to make apple cider?
It takes around 36 apples to make one gallon of apple cider. It may be a lot of apples, but it's worth it.
When you're at the grocery store in the produce aisle, you'll usually see a large variety of apples. Some are green, yellow, red, or a combination of colors.
There are over 7,500 types of apples in the world. The United States grows 2,500 of those 7,500 types of apples. The apple variety that is produced the most worldwide is the Red Delicious apple.
You may be wondering if apple sauce and apple juice are also acidic since the traditional fruit is. Both apple sauce and apple juice are acidic. Their pH levels are 3.1 to 3.6 and 3.3 to 4.0, respectfully.
Don't know what to drink? Check out these articles: 20 Most and Least Acidic Juices and 20+ Alcoholic Drinks Ranked by Acidity Level