Apples are one of the most popular fruits — and for good reason.

They’re an exceptionally healthy fruit with many research-backed benefits.

Here are 10 impressive health benefits of apples.

1. Apples Are Nutritious

A medium apple — with a diameter of about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) — equals 1.5 cups of fruit. Two cups of fruit daily are recommended on a 2,000-calorie diet.

One medium apple — 6.4 ounces or 182 grams — offers the following nutrients (1):

  • Calories: 95
  • Carbs: 25 grams
  • Fiber: 4 grams
  • Vitamin C: 14% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
  • Potassium: 6% of the RDI
  • Vitamin K: 5% of the RDI

What’s more, the same serving provides 2–4% of the RDI for manganese, copper, and the vitamins A, E, B1, B2, and B6.

Apples are also a rich source of polyphenols. While nutrition labels don’t list these plant compounds, they’re likely responsible for many of the health benefits.

To get the most out of apples, leave the skin on — it contains half of the fiber and many of the polyphenols.

SUMMARYApples are a good source of fiber and vitamin C. They also contain polyphenols, which may have numerous health benefits.

2. Apples May Be Good for Weight Loss

Apples are high in fiber and water — two qualities that make them filling.

In one study, people who ate apple slices before a meal felt fuller than those who consumed applesauce, apple juice, or no apple products (2).

In the same study, those who started their meal with apple slices also ate an average of 200 fewer calories than those who didn’t (2).

In another 10-week study in 50 overweight women, participants who ate apples lost an average of 2 pounds (1 kg) and ate fewer calories overall, compared to those who ate oat cookies with a similar calorie and fiber content (3).

Researchers think that apples are more filling because they’re less energy-dense, yet still deliver fiber and volume.

Furthermore, some natural compounds in them may promote weight loss.

A study in obese mice found that those given a supplement of ground apples and apple juice concentrate lost more weight and had lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol than the control group (4).

SUMMARYApples may aid weight loss in several ways. They’re also particularly filling due to their high fiber content.

3. Apples May Be Good for Your Heart

Apples have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease (5).

One reason may be that apples contain soluble fiber — the kind that can help lower your blood cholesterol levels.

They also contain polyphenols, which have antioxidant effects. Many of these are concentrated in the peel.

One of these polyphenols is the flavonoid epicatechin, which may lower blood pressure.

An analysis of studies found that high intakes of flavonoids were linked to a 20% lower risk of stroke (6).

Flavonoids can help prevent heart disease by lowering blood pressure, reducing “bad” LDL oxidation, and acting as antioxidants (7).

Another study comparing the effects of eating an apple a day to taking statins — a class of drugs known to lower cholesterol — concluded that apples would be almost as effective at reducing death from heart disease as the drugs (8).

However, since this was not a controlled trial, findings must be taken with a grain of salt.

Another study linked consuming white-fleshed fruits and vegetables, such as apples and pears, to a reduced risk of stroke. For every 25 grams — about 1/5 cup of apple slices — consumed, the risk of stroke decreased by 9% (9).

SUMMARYApples promote heart health in several ways. They’re high in soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol. They also have polyphenols, which are linked to lower blood pressure and stroke risk.

4. They’re Linked to a Lower Risk of Diabetes

Several studies have linked eating apples to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (10).

In one large study, eating an apple a day was linked to a 28% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, compared to not eating any apples. Even eating just a few apples per week had a similarly protective effect (11).

It’s possible that the polyphenols in apples help prevent tissue damage to beta cells in your pancreas. Beta cells produce insulin in your body and are often damaged in people with type 2 diabetes.

SUMMARYEating apples is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This is possibly due to their polyphenol antioxidant content.

5. They May Have Prebiotic Effects and Promote Good Gut Bacteria

Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic. This means it feeds the good bacteria in your gut.

Your small intestine doesn’t absorb fiber during digestion. Instead, it goes to your colon, where it can promote the growth of good bacteria. It also turns into other helpful compounds that circulate back through your body (5).

New research suggests that this may be the reason behind some of the protective effects of apples against obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

SUMMARYThe type of fiber in apples feeds good bacteria and may be the reason they protect against obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

6. Substances in Apples May Help Prevent Cancer

Test-tube studies have shown a link between plant compounds in apples and a lower risk of cancer (11).

Additionally, one study in women reported that eating apples was linked to lower rates of death from cancer 12).

Scientists believe that their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may be responsible for their potential cancer-preventive effects (13).