When he died at the age of 71, he owned 1,200 acres of apple orchards. There are over 7000 varieties of apples with approximately 100 or more different varieties grown in the United States. The three leading varieties are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith. An apple a day may keep the doctor way because the fiber, pectin, helps to lower cholesterol and prevent cancer. The other nutrients, vitamins A and C and potassium, also work in fighting cancer and heart disease.
Phytochemicals give color, flavor and smell to plants.
Apples are rich in the phytochemicals, flavonoids, which act as an anti-cancer agent. While all fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, they will not have the same kind or amount. The research on phytochemicals and their importance in health is still emerging. This increases the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day to take advantage of the known nutritional components plus the benefits of phytochemicals.