Having an apple right before lunch prevents the blood sugar dips that trigger cravings for sweets or carbohydrates later in the day.

The reason: Apples are one of the richest sources of pectin, a soluble fiber that turns into a sticky gel-like substance in the belly and adheres to simple sugars, stalling their absorption into the bloodstream, according to Cambridge University researchers.

One more note on apples:

A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that enjoying an apple before a meal curbs appetite for up to four hours!