The benefits and harms of apples. Beneficial properties of apples, vitamins and minerals

Apple: benefits and harms for dental health

Good afternoon everyone! Today on our agenda is a very interesting and important topic for each of us. Apples: benefits and harm for teeth. I think many of us have heard a lot of myths that apples are extremely harmful to teeth and therefore we need to reduce the amount of them in our diet in order to protect our teeth, or eat them after some kind of heat treatment.

Today we will figure it out: is this true, what benefits and harm do apples have for teeth, and how to do it in such a way as to minimize the harm to our teeth.

Let's start with the fact that apples are actually the most common fruit in the diet of most people; they are easy to get at virtually any time of the year, and their price is excellent. And this is not surprising, because apple trees are extremely unpretentious trees, and they contain a lot of useful substances.

Myth or reality: 13 facts about dental health

Is it enough for a healthy person to have only toothpaste and brushes to care for his teeth? Is it really good to chew gum after eating? Do sweets really spoil your teeth? We collected the most common myths about dental health and asked the dentist which of them is true and which is not.

Alexey Zakharov, orthopedic dentist, surgeon at GMS Dental clinic

Sweets are bad for your teeth True. And not only sweets

It all depends on the frequency of consumption of sweets and how long it remains in the mouth. If we quickly swallow one candy, then no disaster will happen - only extra calories will be added. But if we take some toffee, nougat or caramel and chew it for a long time, then this is where the risk of caries appears. When we eat something sweet, the pH environment in the mouth changes - it becomes more acidic, this worsens the condition of the teeth, they weaken and deteriorate faster. But, unfortunately, even a complete abstinence from sweets does not guarantee the absence of dental problems. Almost any food has a negative effect on teeth. Therefore, ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal.

Apples can clean your teeth True

Apples belong to that small category of foods that are good for teeth. They really clean and strengthen teeth well, but they cannot replace full brushing.

Chewing gum is good for your teeth True. But with reservations

Chewing gum works like an apple - it cleans your teeth. But you can snack on an apple, but not on chewing gum. In addition, it is important when you chew gum and how long you do it. If the gum does not contain sugar and you chew it for two or three minutes after eating, then yes, it is rather useful, it will clean your teeth and promote digestion. If you chew gum often, for a long time, or instead of eating, you can cause great harm to the stomach; in this case, the benefits for teeth are in doubt.

If your teeth look healthy in appearance and don’t bother you, then you don’t have to go to the doctor . Not true

This is our mentality: until something hurts, few people go to the doctor. And this applies not only to dentistry. This behavior is partly due to Soviet medicine, which is used to scare everyone. Partly, people simply don’t know where to go, don’t trust the doctor, are afraid to find out something unpleasant, and don’t want to spend money. But, of course, it is better to check regularly. You need to go to the dentist once every six months for hygienic cleaning, during which the doctor will use a special device to remove the plaque that you cannot remove at home and conduct a preventive examination of your teeth and oral cavity. This will allow any possible problems to be noticed and treated at an early stage and thus save money and time. After all, the longer you live with a problem, the longer and more expensive it will be to treat it.

In order to take care of the oral cavity, a healthy person only needs one toothbrush. False

No, not enough. But if you add dental floss or special brushes, it will be enough. It is better to brush your teeth with sweeping movements. That is, from the gum to the cutting edge. In one direction. When you move the brush horizontally back and forth, you only push plaque into the interdental space. Not everyone needs special rinses either; they should only be purchased on the recommendation of a doctor.

The stiffer the brush, the better it cleans your teeth . Not true.

There are companies that do not produce hard brushes at all. Because hard brushes, especially with improper brushing technique, can damage the enamel. The determining factor here is not really the hardness or softness of the brush, but the number and density of the bristles. It’s good if there are a lot of them and the bunches are dense.

An electric toothbrush cleans better than a regular toothbrush . Not true.

I call these brushes brushes for the lazy. If you have an electric brush with a spinning head, I suggest throwing it away. She is not able to clean plaque. There is not enough power to rotate the head enough times. The trajectory of movement of such brushes only contributes to the fact that plaque ends up in the interdental space. If your electric toothbrush has a head that looks like a regular one, you can safely use this one. But still, it cannot be said that it cleans better than usual. They work the same way.

Mint toothpaste cleans teeth better False

It's more of a myth. Yes, this paste gives a feeling of freshness, especially if a person suffers from halitosis (bad breath), but it cannot be said that it cleans better or worse than any other - the taste has no effect.

Whitening toothpastes ruin teeth. Not true.

Globally whitening toothpastes do not damage teeth. Of course, everything depends on the composition of the paste, the number and size of abrasive particles, as well as the initial condition of the teeth. But ordinary whitening pastes cannot cause any real harm, and you won’t get a noticeable effect either. Only professional whitening can provide it.

Professional whitening is harmful to teeth False

There are contraindications to such bleaching. For example, pregnancy, but this procedure is rather safe. Often patients worry that whitening will ruin their teeth, but for some reason they are not afraid that they drink sweet soda or snack on unhealthy snacks. In general, everything is relative. But I can say for sure that I don’t know of any cases where teeth deteriorated and fell out after whitening.

You can correct your bite only in childhood . Not true.

You can correct your bite at any age. The only thing you need to understand is that in younger people, all processes of moving teeth and correcting bites will be faster and easier. The older a person is, the longer and more difficult all this will take.

There are no people with a perfectly correct bite, so all people need the help of an orthodontist. More likely true

Most people really need an orthodontist. Of course, there are lucky people who are doing well: their teeth are aligned evenly and correctly in relation to each other, none of them are overloaded. But there are only a few of them, so most people really need orthodontic treatment. For some less, for others more serious. So it is best to start seeing an orthodontist when the first molars appear.

There is no need to treat baby teeth False

A good pediatric dentist can always weigh the situation and determine whether the tooth needs to be treated or whether it is more appropriate to remove it. For example, if a baby tooth is in poor condition, but there are several months left before it is replaced with a permanent one, then it is better to remove it. If we are talking about years, then we need to treat. Otherwise, the new tooth may grow unevenly, and the remaining teeth will begin to shift. Then you definitely won’t be able to do without the help of an orthodontist.

Beneficial features

Among the older generation, this fruit is considered truly miraculous, and it is no coincidence that it received such fame: it contains a whole range of vitamins and minerals necessary for our body.
The main vitamins found in apples include:

1. Vitamin C helps cleanse the body of harmful metabolic products, improves blood circulation, and improves immunity.
2. Thiamine (vitamin B1) improves the functioning of the nervous, digestive, and cardiovascular systems.
3. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is necessary for the synthesis of hormones and ATP.
4. Vitamin P helps normalize blood pressure, intraocular pressure and heart rate.
5. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is an antioxidant that protects the body from the effects of toxins.

Harmful properties

Despite the huge number of positive properties, in some cases apples can negatively affect the body. In the wake of the general desire for ideal forms, the so-called “mono-diets” - diets based on the consumption of only one product - have become widespread. Apple “mono-diets” can negatively affect the body: an excess of fiber contained in these fruits can cause exacerbation of colitis and gastritis, and a lack of substances that are not contained in apples weakens the body.

The increased acidity of apples can lead to inflammation in the gallbladder. In addition, yellow and red apples are contraindicated for people with diabetes due to their glycemic index being too high. This also applies to apple juice, no matter whether it is freshly squeezed or produced in a factory. In addition, the combination of fruit acids and excess sweetness in apples can have a detrimental effect on the condition of tooth enamel.

It is also worth noting the harm of the seeds of this fruit, which contain hydrocyanic acid. In small quantities (less than 5 pieces) they are even useful, but you should not abuse them. The peel of apples also requires special attention: it contains a large amount of useful substances, but the peels of fruits from store shelves are treated with chemical solutions that can cause harm to the body. That is why apples should be washed thoroughly before eating.

Essential Minerals

Manganese regulates blood glucose and cholesterol levels and is responsible for the growth of connective tissue and cartilage. Potassium is involved in organizing the functioning of the nervous system and improves the supply of oxygen to the brain.

Apples are also a natural source of iron, which is responsible for the formation of hemoglobin in the blood and strengthens human immunity. The fiber contained in these fruits has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract: it promotes the elimination of waste and toxins, and improves the digestive process. In addition, they contain pectin substances, which remove heavy radioactive metals and other environmental pollution products from the body.

Another beneficial property of these fruits is their positive effect on skin, hair and nails. Apples are the main ingredient in dozens of different masks for hair and face, baths for hands and nails.

The benefits of apples for the human body

Everyone loves apples, from young to old. And it’s probably a rare person who has never tried apples and doesn’t like them.

First, let’s take a “botanical look” at apples. Indeed, in order to understand how much benefit these fruits bring to us, it is important to know what they are.

Description and features

The home apple tree is a tree on which grow those very favorite fruits that are incredibly useful for the human body - apples! The apple tree belongs to the Rosaceae family. The height of the tree reaches 15 meters. Depending on the variety, it can be a tall tree or a low-growing (from 1 to 1.5 meters) shrub. The trunk of apple trees is of medium width, the branches are spreading and straight. The leaves are green, oval, irregular in shape with a slightly matte rough surface. The apple tree blooms with soft white, less often pink, flowers collected from four to five petals. Depending on the variety, from about May to August, the fruits - apples - begin to ripen. The fruit of an apple tree varies in size depending on the degree of ripening and variety. There are apples the size of a walnut, but some varieties are represented by fruits reaching the size of a large orange or even a grapefruit.

The color of a ripe apple can be:

• red;
• pink;
• yellow;
• green;
• yellow with an orange or pink side;
• green with a red or pink side;
• deep purple;
• white and green.

Nature has colored different varieties of apples in all these shades. In addition to different colors, the shape of the fruit also varies. An apple can be oblong, oval, round, or heart-shaped. A ripe apple can taste sweet, sweet and sour, sour.

Central Asia is considered the birthplace of the apple tree. But this type of fruit tree is widespread in European countries. The apple tree also grows in Russia. At the same time, the apple tree crop is unpretentious. Each climate zone has its own varieties. The apple tree does not grow only in the frosty north.

The benefits of apples for the body

Ask any doctor or nutritionist: are apples good for the body? You will probably be told that this fruit is extremely important for saturating the human body with useful bioactive substances. And all thanks to the composition!

Composition of a ripe apple:

• phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids;
• vitamins: C; A; IN; E; TO; RR;
• iron, potassium, fluorine;
• zinc, copper, iodine;
• magnesium, sodium, phosphorus;
• folic and other organic acids;
• starch;
• ash;
• pectin;
• inulin;
• cellulose.

100 g of product contains:

• proteins - 0.4 g;
• fats - 0.4 g;
• carbohydrates - 9.8 g.

The total amount of calories is 47 Kcal.

This is the variety of useful substances contained in an apple. Due to these elements, the fruit benefits the human body.

Positive effects of eating ripe apples:

• immunomodulatory effect;
• antianemic effect;
• anti-inflammatory effect;
• light disinfecting effect;
• stimulation of intestinal function;
• antitumor effect;
• improving the quality of flora;
• regenerative and cleansing effect on the liver;
• normalization of cholesterol in the blood;
• beneficial effect on the sugar curve in diabetes types I, II;
• removal of waste and toxins;
• restoration of vitality;
• removing excess fluid from the body;
• weight correction;
• rejuvenating effect;
• strengthening gums and tooth enamel;
• support of the heart and blood vessels;
• improved mood.

This is not a complete list of the beneficial properties of apples. Surely many have noticed that when we go to visit someone in the hospital, we take with us a bag of apples, or at least 1-2 ripe fruits of an apple tree. This fruit is included in the menu of kindergartens, medical, health resort institutions, and schools. The apple is considered the healthiest and safest fruit, which provides an incredible amount of benefits.

Separately, it is worth noting the benefits of apples for the body of men and women.

The benefits of apples for a woman’s body

Representatives of the fairer sex will appreciate the benefits of apples for their body. The main role in these fruits is played by folic acid and iron. These substances are very valuable in the period of preparation for conception and during pregnancy. Folic acid helps the formation of the placenta and fetus, promotes the proper development and smooth course of pregnancy. The iron that apples are rich in helps prevent the development of anemia.

This fruit is considered low-allergenic (especially green and yellow apples). You can eat it little by little during lactation. Fiber contained in ripe fruits helps improve intestinal motility and prevents constipation. These fruits contain many substances that stabilize hormonal levels and trigger normal metabolism. Apples are valuable during menopause. They are good for weight loss and maintaining youthful skin.

The benefits of apples for the male body

Men will also appreciate the benefits of apples for the body! These fruits help strengthen muscle tissue. They help make the body more resilient and stronger. Apples have a positive effect on the blood formula. These fruits protect against colds and infectious diseases. Apples are useful for the prevention of prostatitis and prostate adenoma. These fruits contain a full range of vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain and protect the nervous system.

Apples improve brain function. It is believed that apples contain substances that help restore potency and enhance male strength. These fruits slow down the aging process and improve the quality of the skin, hair and nails. Apples are a good fuel for physically active male athletes or those engaged in hard physical labor.

Are apples good for children?

An apple is the most valuable and healthy fruit for a child’s body! It is with apples that we begin the baby's first complementary feeding. Only apple has a minimum of contraindications. Apples help protect children's bodies during the season of infectious and cold diseases. These fruits charge you with strength, promote growth and development. You can try apples as early as 4–5 months (as part of baby food). This can be applesauce or juice, or fresh apple pulp thoroughly mashed with a spoon. Before letting your baby try an apple for the first time, you should consult a specialist! However, it is worth noting that these fruits have a small number of contraindications.

Contraindications and harm

Despite all the enormous benefits of apples, there is still the possibility of harm from eating the juicy, sweet fruit.

When should you not eat apples? It is worth highlighting the following list of contraindications:

• individual intolerance to the product;
• acute period of food allergy;
• children up to 4 months;
• pancreatitis and other diseases of the pancreas;
• acute phase of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer;
• acute intestinal disorder.

For type I diabetes, apples count as 9.8 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of ripe apple. From this calculation, the required amount of insulin is calculated to compensate for the apple. Diabetics with type II disease are recommended to choose green apples. This fruit has a low glycemic index.

For any chronic diseases and acute pathological conditions, you should not eat apples without consulting a doctor!

How to use it correctly?

Of course, it is best to consume these fruits raw. This way they retain all the beneficial substances. However, apple dishes, as well as apples processed in a special way, also retain their benefits.

This type of apple processing is the most gentle: it preserves all the vitamins and minerals of fresh fruit and allows the fruit to be stored longer and easier to digest. The essence of soaking is that fresh, strong fruits without rot and with intact, undamaged peels are placed in a container (previously these were only special wooden barrels, now glass containers are often used), filled with water with the addition of various spices and kept for a long time. time.

This dish is considered one of the healthiest desserts, and a good recipe makes baked apples incredibly tasty.
Despite the fact that baking takes away some of the nutrients from fruits, baked apples still have a positive effect on the body. By adding nuts, honey and candied fruits to this dish, you will get an excellent dessert rich in vitamins and minerals. It is no coincidence that the apple is called the “doctor” - proper consumption of this fruit can really significantly improve the condition of your body!