Apples are a great source of fiber, they are also an excellent source of antioxidants. But, don't peel your apple before eating it, since two-thirds of the fiber and a great deal of antioxidants are found in the peel. Research facilities around the world have conducted studies in recent years showing the strong connection between fiber and the antioxidants found in apples and lower blood cholesterol, improved bowel function, and a reduced risk of several serious diseases, including cancer.

Here is a list of studies that I have found.

A Mayo Clinic study indicated that quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant abundant in apples, helps prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Cornell University conducted a study that indicated phytochemicals (another form of antioxidants), found in the skin of an apple, inhibited the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43%.

The National Cancer Institute reported that foods containing flavonoid antioxidants, like those found in apples, may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50%.

The University of California recently reported that apples and apple juice may help protect arteries from harmful plaque build-up, thereby giving the body more time to rid itself of cholesterol before it can cause damage.

Research from the University of Massachusetts found that eating and drinking apples and apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet, can protect the brain against cell damage that contributes to age-related memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.

A study by researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of Oslo, Norway, found that flavonoid-rich apples were found to be one of three foods (along with red wine and pears) that decrease the risk of mortality for both coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Two British studies indicated that eating 5 apples per week results in better lung function and reduces the risk of respiratory disease, thereby improving general lung health.

At the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, apples were singled out as a fruit that could cut smokers’ risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in half.

A Finnish study showed that people who eat a diet rich in flavonoid antioxidants have a lower incidence of heart disease, and other studies indicate that flavonoid antioxidants may help prevent strokes.

So, with all of this evidence, lets start eating those Apples.