Granny Smith, the Greener Apple

Today we would like to share with you guys some fun facts about Granny Smith. It’s really from a granny. Let’s check out its story. Granny Smith is one of the best cooking apples with a sensational tart, tangy flavor. When fully mature the sweetness level of this popular apple increases.

This Australian native was discovered in 1868 as a chance seedling by “Granny” Anne Smith of Ryde, New South Wales. One parent might have been a French Crab Apple. Granny’s are known for the distinctive green flesh, which sometimes bears a red blush and their very tart flavor. An all-purpose apple, granny’s work equally well as a snack, in pies or as a sauce.

In 1895, the NSW Dept. of Agriculture, named “Granny Smith's Seedling” as a suitable variety for export and it has since become a much-loved apple variety, known worldwide
Granny Smith apples are available year-round.

Firm, medium grain, bright white flesh that resists browning when sliced

CHARACTERISTICS

Exterior: Green with a slight pink blush if cool

Interior: Firm, medium grain, bright white flesh that resists browning when sliced

Experience: Granny Smith apples are often used in baking because of their high acidity and ability to hold their shape when cooked. Try baked into sweet or savory pies, tarts, or meat pastries; add to savory bread stuffing, risotto or potato pancakes. Their sweet-tart flavor is a great addition to soups, smoothies, and sauces. Because they are slow to brown when cut, they are perfect diced and added to fresh preparations such as salads and salsas or sliced and paired with cheese.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Weight Loss
Granny Smith apples make a guilt-free addition to your weight-loss efforts. They are naturally low in calories, providing a minimal 80 calories for a medium 3-inch piece of fruit. The high fiber content of Granny Smith apples further helps your weight-loss goals by improving satiety. Soluble fiber, which comes from the soft inside part of the apple, attracts water in your intestinal tract. It forms a gel-like substance, which slows digestion and forces food to back up into your stomach. You may feel full for an extended period of time if you snack on a Granny Smith apple in the afternoon or enjoy one right before a meal.

Regulate Blood Sugar
Granny Smith apples can help stabilize your blood sugar levels, which is particularly important if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. Foods rich in soluble fiber delay absorption of sugar in your small intestine and may lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Women who eat an apple a day are nearly 30 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, "Best Health Magazine" reports. Make sure you meet your daily fiber recommendation for maximum benefits. You need 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories in your diet, which amounts to 28 daily grams for an average 2,000-calorie diet, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. A medium 3-inch Granny Smith apple provides about 5 grams of dietary fiber.

Healthy Teeth
If you can't brush your teeth after a meal, reach for a Granny Smith apple. Biting and chewing the tough, fibrous skin of the apple stimulates saliva production. The extreme tartness of Granny Smith apple aids in more salivation than a sweeter type of apple. High levels of saliva decrease bacteria in your mouth that attack teeth and cause cavities. Granny Smith apples are high in acid, which can break down tooth enamel. As a precaution, drink a glass of water with your apple to minimize any damage from acid.

Steady Heart Rhythm
Granny Smith apples have a slightly higher potassium content than other types of apples. Potassium is an electrolyte that keeps fluid balance in and around cells. This process is vital to everyday electrical flow through your body, a function that makes your heart beat. If you don't get enough potassium each day, you may wind up having an irregular heartbeat. You need 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. A 100-gram Granny Smith apple, which is equivalent to about 3 1/2 ounces, provides 115 milligrams of potassium.

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