As the Welsh proverb goes; an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Being one of the world’s most cultivated fruits, it is no surprise that food nutritionists do refer to apples as nutritional powerhouses. Apples were ranked top among the ‘Top Ten Healthy Foods’- an article feature of Medical News Today.

Apples are filled with soluble fiber. It is a well-known fact that a diet high in fiber can help prevent the development of certain diseases and may help prevent the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood from rising.

The dietary fiber in apples has been shown to reduce intestinal disorders, including diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and possibly some types of cancer. It also helps control insulin levels by releasing sugar slowly into the bloodstream. Apples are also responsible for cleansing and detoxifying, which helps eliminate heavy metals, such as lead and mercury.

The pectin in apples helps reduce cholesterol levels by lowering insulin secretion. A group of researchers at The Florida State University stated that apples really are a "miracle fruit". They found that older women who ate apples everyday had 23% less bad cholesterol (LDL) and 4% more good cholesterol (HDL) after just six months.

Eating five apples a week lowers the risk for respiratory diseases like asthma. Five or more apples a week (less than an apple a day!) has been linked with better lung function, Health magazine reported, most likely because of an antioxidant called quercetin found in the skin of apples  (as well as in onions and tomatoes).

According to Chinese Medicine: Apples strengthen the heart, quench thirst, lubricate the lungs, decrease mucous and increase body fluids.

Apple cider vinegar can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Studies indicate that eating apples daily can reduce skin diseases. This is owing to the abundant phytonutrients which helps to protect the detrimental effect of free radicals.

According to a Brazilian study, eating an apple before a meal helped women lose 33 percent more weight than those who didn’t.

In 2004, French research found that a chemical in apples helped prevent colon cancer, WebMD reported. And in 2007, a study from Cornell found additional compounds, called triterpenoids, which seem to fight against liver, colon and breast cancers.

The fruit has been linked to an uptick in acetylcholine production, Good Housekeeping reported, which communicates between nerve cells, so apples help boost the memoryand lower your chances of developing Alzheimer's.

While they don't quite rival oranges and strawberries, oranges, apples are considered a good source of immune system-boosting vitamin C, with over 8 milligrams per medium-sized fruit, which amounts to roughly 14 percent of your daily recommended intake.

 So what are you waiting for, make apples part of your daily routine