Health Benefits Of Apples And Apple Products: Research Highlights
We all know the old adage: An apple a day... But you may be surprised to learn that scientists are hard at work trying to unearth the details of the popular maxim. In fact, right now, researchers around the country, around the globe, are discovering exactly why and how apples and apple products offer their fabled health benefits. To date, more than 100 research studies have helped inform our understanding of the world’s most popular fruit.
A review of the literature reveals that apple consumption has been associated with a decreased risk of a number of chronic diseases, including asthma, heart disease and cancer. Lab studies note that phytonutrients in the fruit (like flavonoids) display high antioxidant activity and have been shown to lower cholesterol, inhibit cancer cell proliferation and reduce lipid oxidation. A 2004 review by Boyer and Liu, states that:
"The potential health benefits of apples are numerous. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, including apples, as part of a healthy diet may aid in the prevention of chronic disease and maintenance of good health."
Additional research suggests even more mechanistic possibilities to help explain the protective power of apples, looking beyond the general antioxidant properties of the flavonoid-rich super fruit.
In 2006, scientists at the University of California-Davis reported that human cells exposed to an apple mash extract were protected against the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein-like compound found in the body that can trigger cell death and promote inflammation. According to the researchers, the apple extract protected the cells by interfering with a pathway that would otherwise damage or kill the cells. Blocking the action of TNF has vast implications, as it is thought to play a role in a number of disease states, including autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.
Preliminary research also shows the potential for apples and apple products to impact lung health and cognitive function – Alzheimer’s disease in particular. Click on the links to the left to read more about all the ways apples, apple juice and processed apple products can help support good health and… keep the doctor away.
Boyer, J., Liu. R. H. Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits. Nutrition Journal. 2004. 3(5).
Davis, P. et al. Effect of Apple Extracts on NF-B Activation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.
Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2006. 231: 594-598.