An old adage holds true

Whether your apple of choice is a Granny Smith, empire, gala, red delicious (which, in my opinion, are ironically the least tasty of all apple varieties, but I digress ...), or McIntosh, it doesn't make too much difference as far as your health goes. The important part, so it would seem, is to make sure that you're eating an apple of any variety. That's because the old adage that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" seems to be quite true.

Apples contain high amounts of polyphenols, which offer a host of health benefits. Specifically, apple polyphenols were shown in laboratory studies to lower blood cholesterol and also inhibit triglyceride absorption. Such protective effects make apples a powerful fighter against heart disease and diabetes.

Apples make a healthy and tasty snack as-is, but you may also want to try slicing one into sections and dipping them in small amounts of peanut butter. The peanut butter will join the apple's fiber content in making digestion take a bit longer, thereby making you feel satiated for a longer period of time.