The Hidden Power of Apples: Nutrition, Healing, and Tradition in One Fruit

They star on our Rosh Hashanah table, but they truly deserve a place of honor in our diet all year round. Most of us eat them without thinking about the health magic they hold. Following are five fascinating facts you probably didn’t know about apples:

1. Nature’s Multivitamin
Apples contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium. They are also packed with antioxidants, which can help protect the body from disease. It’s no wonder the saying goes: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

2. Great for the Gut, Excellent for the Heart
Apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber that supports healthy digestion and significantly lowers the risk of intestinal issues. They also support heart and brain health thanks to their antioxidant content, which may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. A World of Variety
There are around 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide, varying in color, size, flavor, and harvest time. Some of the most popular varieties include Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Gala, Pink Lady and Cornish. Apples are grown all over the globe, particularly in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. They are used for eating fresh, baking, cooking, juicing, and more.

4. Grown Almost Everywhere
Apple trees can thrive in a wide range of soils, though they need protection from wind and prefer cooler climates. The harvest season depends on the variety: in the Northern Hemisphere, it runs from mid-July to early November, and in the Southern Hemisphere, from early February to the end of May. Many varieties grow in both hemispheres and store well with refrigeration and transportation.

5. Rich in Symbolism and Blessing
Some have the custom to eat apples on Friday night (Shabbat eve), as the meal is referred to in Aramaic as "Chakal Tapuchin Kadishin" — "Orchard of Holy Apples". The Chiddushei HaRim quotes the Maggid of Kozhnitz as saying, “One who eats apples on Friday night is assured of livelihood throughout the week — even apple drinks, not just the fruit.” Apples are mentioned six times in the Bible, including at the end of the list of Israel’s most important fruit trees (Joel 1:12). In Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs), the apple appears four times.