SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT APPLES/APPLE PRODUCTS MAY HELP FIGHT CHRONIC DISEASE

Apples/Apple Products Rank High in Antioxidants

Newly published research in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, shows that apples are among the richest foods to contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances found in foods that protect against cell damage, which has been linked to many chronic and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease, as well as the aging process. In the largest, most comprehensive analysis of foods to date, researchers at the USDA Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center measured the antioxidant capacity of more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, spices and cereals. “We think this type of measurement is a good indicator of the total amount of antioxidants in foods,” said Xianli Wu, lead researcher of the study. “Consumers should eat more foods with high antioxidant capacity. Apples and apple products are one of them.“ (Source: Wu, X. et al. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry June 2004, vol. 52, issue 12; pp. 4026-4037.)

These findings further validate the results from a study published earlier this year, which suggest it is the high antioxidant levels of apple juice that help counteract oxidative damage contributing to age-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and may help to maintain brain performance. (Source: Shea, T et al. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, March 2004; vol. 8, 92-97).

Previous research has shown that apples are a rich source of antioxidants; Cornell University researchers reported in the journal Nature in 2000 that one apple packs more cancer-fighting antioxidant capability than a 1,500-milligram dose of vitamin C. (Source: Nature, 2000, 405: 903-904)

Apples Rich in Phytonutrients, Fiber and Flavonoids

A recent research review published in the journal Mutation Research suggests that eating more phytonutrient and fiber rich fruits and vegetables like apples may drastically lower the risk of developing cancer of the digestive tract, including the pharnx, esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. Apples are a rich source of fiber—one medium apple contains 5 grams of fiber or 20% of the recommended fiber intake per day. And, apples and apple products are one of the leading sources of phytonutrients among all plant foods. (Source: Johnson, I.T. Mutation Research: Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 2004; vol. 551, issues 1-2, pp. 9-28.)

Research conducted in 2000 at the University of Hawaii linked a type of flavonoid called quercetin that is found in apples, with a reduced risk of lung cancer. (Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2000, 92: 154-160). This study validated similar findings from 1997 when Finnish researchers reported that flavonoids and apples were associated with a reduced risk of all cancers and lung cancer, based on their 25+-year-long epidemiological study. (Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, 1997, 146: 223-230)

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