Apple nutritional value and cultivation techniques

Apple is a very good health-preserving fruit. Eating more apples can keep you away from doctors and keep you in great health.

apple

Sweet and sour , rich in nutrition , it is one of the fruits suitable for both young and old. It has high nutritional value and medical value, and is called " the doctor's first medicine " by more and more people . Many Americans regard apples as a must-have for weight loss. They diet one day a week and only eat apples on that day, which is called " Apple Day " . Apples are also called the fruit of wisdom because it is said that Adam and Eve were tempted by the venomous snake transformed by the devil, and the fruit they stole was an apple.

Europeans have been eating apples for a long time, and have improved and bred them. Some varieties were seen more than 2,000 years ago. Before colonizing America, there were hundreds of known varieties in Europe. Later, as the wave of immigrants surged across North America, apple varieties also spread everywhere. In ancient my country, there were fruits of the same genus that were very similar to apples, but the name apple did not officially appear until the Ming Dynasty.

The world's annual apple production is about 32 million metric tons. In the United States, half of the apples produced are usually eaten fresh; about 1/5 are used to make vinegar, juice, jelly, applesauce, etc.; about 1/6 are made into canned applesauce and used as an ingredient in pies. In Europe, a large part of apples are used to make cider and brandy. Apples used to make cider account for 1/4 of the world's production .

Cultivation techniques

Origin

Apples originated in Turkey and the Caucasus in southeastern Europe. They were first introduced to Shandong in China around 1870 , and are now widely cultivated in most provinces of China. Among them, Shandong, Liaoning, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang and other provinces are the main producing areas. In the world, the United States, China, France, Italy and Turkey are the largest producers, and France, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and the United States are the largest exporters of apples.

Growth environment

Apple trees need a certain period of dormancy, so they are best grown in areas with distinct winters ( generally between 30° and 60° north and south latitude ) . Further north, cultivation is limited due to the cold winters and short growing season. Apples need to be grown on well-drained soil, and fertilizer should be applied when the soil is not fertile enough. The tops of undulating hills or slopes are best for growing apples. In this type of terrain, on cold spring nights, the colder and heavier air will flow down into the valley, otherwise the apple flowers and tender fruits will be frozen.

variety

There are many varieties of apples in China, which can be divided into three categories according to their maturity period: early-maturing, mid-maturing, and late-maturing. The early-maturing varieties mature from June to July , and the main varieties are: Huangkui, Hongkui, Zhuguang, Liaofu, etc. This type of fruit is easy to rot, not resistant to storage, and has poor quality and flavor. The mid-maturing varieties mature from August to September , and the main varieties are: Marshal, Red Star, New Red Star, Golden Crown, Shouhong, Hongyu, etc. The late-maturing varieties mature from October to November , and the main varieties are: Guoguang, Fuji, Red Fuji series varieties, Green Banana, Wojin, India, Jiguan, Qinguan, etc.

Health Benefits

1. Apples contain a lot of pectin. After entering the human body, pectin can combine with bile acid and absorb excess cholesterol and triglycerides like a sponge, and then excrete them out of the body. At the same time, the acetic acid decomposed by apples is conducive to the decomposition and metabolism of these two substances. In addition, the vitamins, fructose, magnesium, etc. in apples can also reduce their content.

2. Apples contain sufficient potassium, which can combine with excess sodium in the body and excrete it out of the body, thereby lowering blood pressure. At the same time, potassium ions can effectively protect blood vessels and reduce the incidence of high blood pressure and stroke.

3. The natural chemical antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids contained in apples can reduce the risk of lung cancer and prevent lead poisoning. The unique aroma of apples can relieve negative emotions caused by excessive stress and also has the effect of refreshing the mind.

4. Apples are rich in crude fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility, assist the body in excreting waste smoothly, and reduce the harm of harmful substances to the skin; and apples contain a large amount of magnesium, sulfur, iron, copper, iodine, manganese, zinc and other trace elements, which can make the skin delicate, smooth, rosy and shiny.

5. Apples contain mineral elements such as boron and manganese that can strengthen bones. A study in the United States found that boron can significantly increase the concentration of estrogen and other compounds in the blood, which can effectively prevent calcium loss. Medical experts believe that if menopausal women can take 3 grams of boron every day, their calcium loss rate can be reduced by 46% . Eating more apples is beneficial to the absorption and utilization of calcium and prevents osteoporosis.