The health benefits of apples (Medium)

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Im Neil.

Sam

And Im Sam.

English has many proverbs  � short and well-known phrase giving a piece of useful advice, or common sense. For , the proverb, “Actions speak louder than words” means that what people do is more important than what they say.

Sam

And the proverb, “’Dont judge a book by its cover” advises people not to form opinions about people on how they look.

Neil

Proverbs are found in many cultures and languages, and are often passed down the generations to teach children lessons in life. One famous English proverb is: “An apple a day keeps the away”.

Sam

In other words, eating fresh fruit is good for you. But is it really true? Can an apple a day actually have significant health benefits? Thats the question well be discussing in this programme, and usual, well be learning some new vocabulary as well.

Neil

But before that I have a question for , Sam. Most proverbs come from a places history, and England has a long history of growing apples. Over the , hundreds of different apple varieties have been grown in orchards up and down the country, some with quite unusual . So, which of the following is the name of a real type of English apple? Is it:

a) a Taylors gold?

b) a Golden pippin? or

c) Black Worcester?

Sam

I dont know but I think its b) a Golden pippin.

Neil

OK, . Ill reveal the answer later in the programme. But whatever the name of the apple, new scientific research is that there really are health benefits to eating apples, especially with the skins on. Apple skins are full of stuff: fibre, vitamins, and especially flavonoids - a chemical compound known to reduce blood pressure and improve brain and health.

Sam

No wonder then, that when Dr Michael Mosley, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Just One , wanted a snack to eat, he reached for an apple.

Dr Michael Mosley

It's early afternoon and I'm bit peckish, so I'm about to grab a delicious snack that could improve my blood flow, boost my brain, trim my waistline. This is not some exotic superfood. In fact, it's an apple.

Neil

Dr Mosley wanted to eat because he was peckish - a little bit hungry. He wanted something healthy, but chose an instead of exotic superfoods like blueberries or a banana smoothie. If you call something exotic, you mean its unusual exciting, often because it comes from an unfamiliar place.

Sam

Instead, he ate the least exotic fruit I imagine - the humble apple. But Dr Mosely thinks apples do have health benefits, and he lists them: apples blood flow, boost the brain, and trim the waistline  � a phrase which means to keep a healthy body with no extra fat.

Neil

Yes, one reason apples are so good for us is that the skin packed with flavonoids whichhelp people lose weight, and have even been linked to a longer life. But thats not . Its the fact that there are so many different ways of cooking and eating apples which makes them one the nations favourite foods. Heres Dr Mosley again explaining how he likes to eat his apples to Just One on BBC Sounds.

Dr Michael Mosley

What I love about apples is they are so versatile. Ive been on them, grating them into my porridge, and having them sliced with full fat yoghurt as a dessert. But apples are one of my favourite ways to consume them. It seems an apple a day really does keep doctor away, and also keep your heart, gut and even your waistline in good shape.

Sam

Dr Mosley apples in porridge, sliced with yogurt, and even baked in the oven. He describes them as versatile  � which can be used for many different purposes, or in many different ways. Whats more, cooking or baking apples damage those healthy flavonoids, so even the occasional apple crumble with custard can be good for you!

Neil

crumble and custard! Im not so sure thats a way to get in good shape  � a phrase meaning ‘� ��’ or ‘in good condition’.

Sam

But, Neil, it seems the old proverb is true  � according to the , an apple a day really does keep the doctor away! Right, its time to reveal the answer to your .

Neil

Yes, I asked you about the strange sounding names given to some varieties of English apple.

And I said that a ‘Golden pippin’ was the name of a real apple. So, was I right?

Yes you were! Golden pippin apples were first grown in Arundel, near the south coast of England, while the two - Black Worcester and Taylors gold  � are actually types of English pear. Right, lets recap the vocabulary learned from this programme, starting with proverb  � a short sentence or expression giving some well-known-, traditional advice.

If youre feeling peckish, youre slightly hungry.

Neil

The adjective exotic describes something which is unusual and exciting, because it comes from a faraway place.

Sam

The phrase trim the waistline means to keep your body healthy with no extra fat around your waistline  � the area of your body above the hips.

Neil

which is versatile can be used for many purposes, or in many different ways.

Sam

And finally, if is in good shape, theyre in a good state of health. Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye now!

Neil

Bye!