Apples in the American diet.

Apples play an important role in the American diet. They are among the most popular fruits consumed in the United States and are well recognized for their flavor and nutrition. In the last three decades, per capita consumption of processed apples has increased and consumption of fresh apples has declined. Apples are a major food source of flavonoids, antioxidants known for their free radical-scavenging properties. Increasing evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiologic studies suggest that flavonoids found in apples may be protective against cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.