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“An apple a day” now has a new meaning for those who want to maintain mental dexterity as they age. This article is exclusively about Washington Apples, which are gaining lots and lots of popularity.

Research from the University of Massachusetts suggests that eating and drinking apples, Washington apples in particular and apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet can protect the brain from the effects of oxidative stress that contributes to age-related memory loss.

And thus, when it comes to eating apples, I strongly recommend Washington apples, as, out of the 7,500 varieties grown worldwide, the best are planted in the commercial orchards of Washington State. And these delicious and healthy Washington apples are now available in India and are grouped as 5 categories :

• juicy Red Delicious: This one’s a classic – the most widely grown apple in  the world. It is bright red and sometimes striped. Crunchy with mildly sweet flavor, Reds are also great in salads. Washington apple growers have been producing the world’s best Red Delicious apples since the 1920s.

• mildly sweet Golden Delicious: Mellow and sweet, Goldens are great for eating out of hand, baking and salads. In salads and other dishes, their flesh stays white longer than other apples. The dry, warm climate of Eastern Washington is perfect for growing this delicate yellow Washington apple.

• green and juicy Granny Smith: Green, extremely tart, crisp, juicy  and versatile, Grannies are a favorite of Washington state pie-bakers. These Washington apples are also excellent for snacking and salads. Warm days and cool summer nights ensure its crunch and flavor.

• tart and crisp Gala: Pinkish-orange stripes over a yellow background is the signature of this crisp, automatically-sweet, snappy Washington apple. Galas,  have gained popularity among consumers in the past 15 years. Snacking and salads are its primary uses.

• syrupy sweet Fuji: The Fuji holds its texture when baked. This Washington apple is known for  its hard texture and syrupy sweetness. It’s also excellent for baking and salads. Washington’s cool weather in the late fall helps develop its reddish-pink color and superb flavor.

Here are some of the benefits of Washington apples:

1. Whole-Body Health Benefit : The disease fighting profile of apples provide a potential decreased risk of cancer, lung cancer and heart disease. It also reduces the damaging effects of the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, prostrate cancer, type-2 diabetes and asthma.

2. Cancer Prevention: Quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in apples, helps prevent the growth of prostrate cancer cells. Also, flavanoids may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50% . A study indicated that photo-chemicals in the skin of an apple/ Washington apple, cut-down the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43% !!

3.  Healthy Lungs: A study indicated that people who ate atleast 5 apples per week experience better lung functioning and also have a lower risk of respiratory disease. At the University of Groningen, Netherlands, apples were singled out as a fruit that could cut smokers’ risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in half.

4. Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention: Washington Apples and apple juice may help protect arteries from harmful plaque build-up. Also, a Finnish study showed that people who eat a diet rich in flavonoids have a lower incidence of heart disease.

5. Weight Loss: Washington Apples are a delicious source of dietary fiber which improves digestion and promotes weight loss. A medium apple contains about 5 gms of fiber, more than most cereals. Also, apples contain almost zero fat and cholesterol.

Hope this helps you in understanding the benefits of apples. And if you guys have decided on eating one everyday, then, my suggestion is, go for Washington apples. The Washington Apple Commission sent a bunch of apples for me to review, and believe me guys, they taste like heaven! Truly delicious… each one of them!

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