Are imported apples better than desi Indian imports? Effectively, might well perchance well even be you is also paying a top charge imprint for no obvious benefits, says an Apollo Hospitals physician.
“If you are paying more for imported apples assuming they are “more healthy” than our home-grown Kashmiri or Himachali varieties, the science suggests you might be paying a premium for a less nutritious product,” said Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM, who works at Apollo Hyderabad.
In a submit on X, the physician said that the imported apples lack freshness. Apples are in most cases harvested and then saved in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage. Whereas this retains them “crunchy,” it doesn’t end nutrient degradation,” he said.
Citing ‘research’, he said that Vitamin C is highly unstable and Apples can lose 40% to 85% of their Vitamin C content during 5–9 months of cold storage.
Dr Sudhir also said that imported apples have to travel over 10,000 km to reach Indiathey lose heat- and light sensitive nutrients.
According to Dr Sudhir, “Indian apples, in particular the Royal Luscious and Starkrimson sorts from the Western Himalayas, are nutritional heavyweights.”
Citing ‘studies’, he claimed that Himalayan apples have high concentrations of phloridzin, quercetin, and catechin-powerful antioxidants that support heart health and help regulate blood sugar.
“The deep pink colour of many Kashmiri/Himachali apples is a signal of excessive anthocyanin stammer, which helps war oxidative stress,” he added.
Besides, he pointed out the environmental cost in importing apples. “Whereas you aquire imported, you is also not correct paying for the fruit; you is also paying for the extensive carbon footprint of lengthy-distance shipping. Importing fruit that is already grown in abundance within the community is one amongst the largest contributors to pointless “food miles.” Deciding on Himachal or Kashmir apples at as soon as helps Indian farmers and the native financial system, guaranteeing that the “premium” you pay in point of fact helps the group fairly than correct logistics companies,” he wrote.
“An apple a day is big, nonetheless a up to date, native apple is even better. Construct not let the shimmering wax and “imported” sticker idiot you; the correct nutrition is within the hills of Himachal and the valleys of Kashmir,” he concluded.
