Michigan Apples are an Important Part of a Healthy Diet
Consumers Can Choose Apples to Help Stay Within New Dietary Guidelines
LANSING, Mich. – The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines were just released, and they focus on choosing healthy foods and beverages that are rich in nutrients, while staying within individual calorie limits. Shari Steinbach, M.S., R.D. the current low intake of nutrient-rich foods and beverages has actually resulted in the underconsumption of some key nutrients and dietary components. Among these are calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D. She recommends carefully selecting the foods you add to each meal and snack to ensure important, health-promoting nutrients are included. The Michigan Apple Committee works with Steinbach to communicate the health benefits of regular apple consumption.
“Making Michigan Apples a regular part of your food choices is helping you increase your intake of two under consumed nutrients and dietary components – fiber and potassium! Michigan Apples are also crunchy, sweet and satisfying,” said Steinbach.
Eating just one apple a day, with the skin, will provide an average of 4.5 grams of fiber and a tennis ball-sized apple contains only about 80 calories. In addition, an apple will provide approximately 180 mg of potassium. Additional health information can be found at www.MichiganApples.com/Healthy-Living.
“Shari continues to be a tremendous help to Michigan Apple consumers, educating about the many ways apples are beneficial to health. She regularly contributes blog posts for our website and tools for planning healthy meals. Her friendly advice and straightforward suggestions have become a consumer favorite,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and help prevent chronic disease. The new guidelines focus on making food choices that are rich in nutrients. It includes three key dietary principles: Meet nutritional needs primarily from foods and beverages; choose a variety of options from each food group; and pay attention to portion size. More information can be found at https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit www.MichiganApples.com.
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