Wellness

Apples For Autumn: The Skin Benefits

Apples are everywhere in the autumn, dropping from the trees, in bowls of water ready for bobbing, and being added into cakes and bakes as a healthy alternative to sugar. But did you know that apples could be the secret ingredient to good skin?

Image Credit @ Camilla Akrans for Eat Beautiful

Sometimes it is the simplest foods that do the most good. Autumn brings with it a glut of juicy apples ready to harvest, which is great news for your skin. Apples are known in Ayurvedic terms for their ability to cool the body after summer. This is because of their anti-inflammatory properties. They are also full of fibre, which is vital to help maintain a healthy digestive system, and good gut health is vital for a radiant complexion. The apple’s skin contains quercetin, which has anti-ageing properties and can help to offset UV damage, too. They are also a great source of vitamin C, which is vital for a healthy immune system and also aids in the synthesis of collagen for a glowing, youthful complexion.

Sold? Make the most of this autumnal skin hero food by trying out my recipe for Stewed Apples And Cinnamon from my book, Eat Beautiful

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Recipe: Stewed Apples with Cinnamon

SERVES 2
238 CALORIES PER SERVING

6 cooking apples, peeled, cored and cut into bitesized pieces
240ml boiling water
1 tbsp honey, plus extra to serve
1½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp natural Greek yoghurt, to serve

My mum would make a whole array of different dishes using stewed apples. It tastes quite naughty, but with only a spoonful of honey to sweeten it, there’s nothing but the healthy deliciousness of the stewed apple.

  1. Place the apple pieces in a saucepan and add the hot water. Add the honey, vanilla and cinnamon and stir.
  2. Cover, bring to a simmer and cook over a gentle heat for 20 minutes or so.
  3. When soft and caramel coloured, remove from the heat and serve with the yoghurt (if using) and honey.

TOP TIP:
Don’t be tempted to skip the apple and reach for the juice instead. You’ll get twice the sugar, none of the benefits of the skin and miss out on the fibre, too.

MORE RECIPES: Garlic Spread | Pumpkin Soup | Chicken Satay

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