We all love sweet and crunchy apples. They make a perfect snack, go great in lunchbox, and there’s apple pie and apple crumble too. What could possibly be not cool about this symbol of good health? If apples are consumed in excess, several strange things start to happen to your body.
Often called a “miracle food” and a “nutritional powerhouse,” an apple a day really may keep the doctor away as they’re one of the healthiest foods a person can eat. These juicy fruits are high in fiber and vitamin C, and they are also low in calories, have only a trace of sodium, and no fat or cholesterol.
Apples have polyphenols content that function as antioxidants. Polyphenols are found in both skin of apples and in the meat, so to get the maximum benefits, eat the skin of apples.
All of the benefits mean that apple may mitigate the effect of asthma and Alzheimer’s disease, while managing pulmonary function, weight management, gastrointestinal protection, and bone health.
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Weakens bones
Consuming large quantities of apple can lead to low potassium levels in the blood, along with very low bone density. Do not eat it if you are suffering from osteoporosis or any other bone issues. You can take it in low doses for avoiding any side effects.
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May weaken teeth enamel
Apple cider vinegar is not same as actual apples, but it is too often used as a health supplement and also in cooking. Larger amount of apple cider vinegar weaken the tooth enamel when eaten undiluted because of its highly acidic nature. Always rinse your mouth with water to remove any trace of it from teeth if you drink apple cider vinegar.
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Causes side effects
Drinking too much apple juice may end up with dizziness, diarrhea, fatigue, and headaches. Artificial sweetened apple juice has a chemical, sorbitol, which may lead to formation of calcium oxalate stones which is also known as kidney stones.
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May cause allergy
If you are allergic to apricots, plums, almonds, peaches, and strawberries, you might be more likely to be allergic to apple too. Learn to proceed with care.
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Contains cyanide
It is always wise to avoid eating apple seeds, as they contain small amounts of deadly cyanide. Eating lot of apple seeds may cause the release of cyanide during digestion. A cup of apple seed can be fatal, but who is really planning to sit down and work the way through a whole cup of apple seed?
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Could cause heart disease
Apples are very high in fructose which is a type of sugar. Fructose is used to produce high fructose corn syrup that is found to be linked with obesity and heart disease. Fructose can be absorbed in liver, and when it is there, it produces harmful fats known as triglycerides, which can lead to heart disease. Eating excess apples can cause excess fructose in body, which can also contribute to obesity and diabetes as well.
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Triggers weight gain
Apples are no doubt healthy but they also contain sugar and calories, so moderation is a key to avoid any risk. A medium-sized apple has around 90-95 calories, so if you eat five in a day, the extra calories soon build u.!
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Increases blood sugar levels
Apples are rich in fiber and healthy carbohydrates, vitamins, and many other nutrients. The body uses carbohydrate for fuel but eating too many apple prevents your body from burning off the fat, because apples contain a lot of carbs. A medium-sized apple contains 25 grams of carbohydrates, but only five of those grams are fiber. This could also lead to a rise in blood sugar levels, but not the one you may get if you eat chocolates or sugary snacks.
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Apple seeds can be poisonous
Apple seed, also known as pips, contains a chemical called amygdalin that can release cyanide, a strong poison, when this comes into contact with the digestive enzymes. Whole seeds can pass through your digestive system untouched, but if you can chew the seeds you may be exposed to these toxins. One or two may not be harmful as body can tolerate small doses of cyanide but in case you chew and swallow a lot of seeds, you should immediately seek medical attention.
How much seeds may be harmful? According to research, about one milligram of cyanide per kilogram of the body weight is enough to kill an adult person. Apple seed contains about 700 mg of cyanide in one kilogram, so about 100 grams of apple seeds will be enough to kill 70-kilograms of adult. But an apple seed weighs 0.7 grams, so you need to munch on 143 seeds to have that amount of cyanide. Apples generally have about eight pips, so you would have to eat the seeds of 18 apples in a sitting to get fatal dose.
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Shows other side effects
Apple may aggravate swelling, hives breathing difficulties, and can cause indigestion and heartburn also. Some persons report mild stomachache after eating apple. This is most likely another symptoms caused by high fiber content of apple. Digesting the fiber might cause gas formation in the gastrointestinal system, resulting in cramps, stomachache, and flatulence. Also, these effects are usually transient.
If you don’t purchase organic apple, you could be exposing yourselves to trace amount of pesticides. Peeling apples could eliminate much of the risk from residue. Much of fiber and vitamin content of apple is found in the peel. So, peeling apples might also reduce the nutritional value. Be careful when scavenging windfall apples. Not only you have no ways of knowing the pesticides used on, the fallen fruit might be contaminated with E. coli and may cause food poisoning.
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Can damage skin
Apple cider vinegar contains acid and it may damage your skin and your throat in case you drink it undiluted or apply it to the skin.