Most of us have probably heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, and that is relatively true, believe it or not. Not only are apples quite delicious, but they are very healthy for you, too. Apples contain polyphenols, which are compounds naturally found in plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and some researchers suggest that polyphenols have promising anticancer and tumor-fighting properties. Polyphenols may also help to prevent inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and infections, as well.  

As just one example, the polyphenol phloretin inhibits a protein called glucose transporter 2, or GLUT2, which plays a role in advanced staged cell growth in specific cancer types. A study done in 2018 in the Journal of Food and Drug Analysis suggests that apple phloretin significantly inhibits breast cancer cells’ growth while not affecting normal cells. So it is safe to say that if you are at high risk of cancer or any other illness, an apple a day can help keep the doctor away. Plus, apples make a delicious and healthy snack.