Did you know that a single, delicious apple has at least 10 percent of the Vitamin C and fiber you need every day? And it’s good for your heart: The Vitamin C helps protect you from infection – and fiber may help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol.

And if you’re trying to trim down, you can indulge yourself without any guilt. A small apple has a mere 75 calories. And its fiber can help you feel full, making it an excellent snack or side item for any meal.

So, treat your taste buds – and your healthy heart. Eat apples raw and with their peels—where most of their fiber is found. Or, you might also try:

– Adding chopped apples to fruit and vegetable salads for extra crunch and sweetness.
– Baking or stewing apples with carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash and other veggies.
– Stuffing cored apples with raisins and cinnamon for a quick dessert. Top with a tablespoon of cider, cover with waxed paper and microwave each apple for two minutes.

Apple Basics

– Choose firm, smooth-skinned apples with intact stems. With more than 100 varieties to choose from, you’re sure to find one that suits your taste. But keep in mind that some apples—including Granny Smith, Pippin and Jonagold—hold their texture better than others when baked.

– After you buy apples, refrigerate them in a plastic bag and use them within three weeks. But given their taste and benefits, you’ll probably want to gobble them up much sooner!

February is National Heart Month. Find out more about GRMC’s cardiac and vascular services.