An apple a day helps keep the doctor away is more than just an old timers tale. There are no more truer words. Below are some facts you may or may not know about apples.

Apples come in a variety of shades of reds, yellows and greens. There are over 7000 varieties grown throughout the world.

Apples are a member of the rose family.

It takes two pounds of apples to make one nine inch pie.

Apples are a natural mouth freshener.

Fresh apples float because 25 % of their volume is air.

If you are on a diet eat an apple before every meal. It will help curb your appetite.

Apples ripen 6 to 10 times faster at room temperature than in the refrigerator.

Store away from strong odor foods. They are porous and will absorb the odors from other foods.

The best place to store apples is in the refrigerator.

To keep cut apples from turning brown, store in cold water with a couple teaspoons of lemon juice.

Apples produce a gas that will speed up the ripening of other fruits such as bananas, pears and plums. If you have some fruit that you need to ripen just store them with some apples.

Here are some nutritional facts about apples:

Apples are fat, sodium and cholesterol free

There are about 80 calories in a medium size apple

Apples are a great source of fiber. About 5 grams in one apple

2/3 of the apples fiber is in the peel, plus the peel is loaded with antioxidants.

Here is an estimate of what a medium size apple contains:
Calories.....80
Carbs.....21 grams
Dietary Fiber.....5 grams
Calcium.....10 mg
Phosphorus.....10 mg
Iron..... 0.25 mg
Sodium..... 0.00 mg
Potassium..... 159 mg
Vitamin C..... 8mg
Vitamin A..... 73 IU
Foliate..... 4 mcg

As you can see apples are one of natures greatest fruits. So eat an apple a day and keep that doctor away.