Can an apple a day actually help keep the doctor away? Yes.

“I have had an apple a day for at least 30 years,” said Sandy Ihlenfeld, senior physical director at the Butler YMCA.

Ihlenfeld said there are many new studies explaining why apples, eaten with the skin, are the new superfood.

“Apples and apple products, like applesauce and apple juice, can help lower the risk of developing heart disease, lower your waist size and help decrease blood pressure,” Ihlenfeld said.

Apples contain zero fat and zero cholesterol, so they are a healthy snack that can decrease hunger while providing other benefits.

“The fiber is in the skin and that dietary fiber not only fills us up, but also helps remove waste,” said Ihlenfeld.

The pectin found in apples can help lower cholesterol by binding the cholesterol and carrying it out of the body.

According to Ihlenfeld, pectin can also help prevent colon cancer.

“New research is showing that the apple pectin and the juice from apples have anticarcinogenic effects in the colon, so they stop or slow down cancer.”

Ihlenfeld recommends purchasing whatever variety of apple is available for the lowest cost. That way it doesn’t hurt the budget and everyone is able to have a healthy snack.

“Apples are considered a really good food, almost like a magic food,” Ihlenfeld said. Anyone looking for more information on the benefits of apples, or nutrition advice, can contact Ihlenfeld or the YMCA at 339 N. Washington St. or 724-287-4733.