With few vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins and fats, what makes an apple a day so appealing?

Apples are undisputedly viewed as one of the healthiest plant foods on the planet

However, what many people don't know is that apples are not high in vitamin A or C, nor are they beneficial for vision like carrots.

Instead, apples are considered a "functional food" thanks to compounds that act like medicines in the body.

Apples contain various bioactive substances – natural chemicals that occur in small amounts in foods and that have biological effects once consumed.

These chemicals are not classified as nutrients like vitamins, but instead help to functionally repair the body from the inside out.

Because apples contain many of these health-promoting bioactive substances, the fruit is extremely beneficial, with each substance taking a unique function in the body.

The bioactive components in apples

An apple’s natural dietary fibres are one of the bioactive components that lead to its being classified as a functional food.

The fibre pectin is found mainly in an apple’s pulp and works to reduce the amount of sugar and fat that is absorbed into the body, which helps reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Did you know?

The peel or skin of an apple peels is jam packed with fibre that acts as a laxative.

In addition, apples contain high amounts of natural chemicals known as polyphenols that have vital roles in promoting health and reducing chronic disease.

More than 8,000 polyphenols have been identified in various plant foods, with the number increasing all the time.