"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." My mother used to tell me that proverb very often when I was a child.
Nowadays folk wisdom is confirmed by a number of scientific studies relative to the beneficial properties of apples. According to a research by the University of Florida, a decrease of the total cholesterol levels by 14% was achieved for the 160 women who participated in the program and followed a diet including daily dried apple consumption for one year. It is estimated that eating raw apples would lead to even better results*. Other studies relate the systematic consumption of apples to the avoidance of heart disease, the loss of weight and the reduced risk of suffering from colon, prostate and lung cancer*. It is also believed that apples help liver detoxification, tone the gums and cure constipation. Apple cider regulates intestinal flora, lowers stomach acidity, reduces intestinal gas and promotes good kidney function*.