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Respiratory Function

Researchers at London's St. George's Hospital found a strong positive association between lung function (as measured by forced expiratory volume) and the number of apples eaten each week, after analyzing dietary records and health outcomes for a group of about 2,500 men studied for five years. Although it had been suggested by previous research that vitamin C from fresh fruit was responsible for improving lung function, the scientists postulate that the health effect may be due to antioxidants in apples, for example, flavonoids like quercetin.

In addition, a 2004 National Institutes of Health study found that eating foods rich in fiber and flavonoids (phytonutrients abundant in apples) impacts chronic productive cough, commonly experienced in persons with chronic respiratory symptoms such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The researchers report that high consumption of fiber and fruits — and specifically apples — was associated with a lower incidence of cough. These findings, from a prospective cohort study involving more than 500 symptomatic and asymptomatic persons, suggest that promoting a high-fiber, high-flavonoid diet may help reduce chronic respiratory symptoms, both in smokers and non-smokers.