Do you remember the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?”

It’s more than a myth! Health researchers continually find more health benefits associated with apples. Several studies suggest apple products and/or apples may provide a "whole-body" health benefit.

Whole Body Goodness

Cancer Risk Management

Studies have shown that diets rich in fruits, like apples and apple products, may reduce the risk of some types of cancer:

Research suggests that phytonutrients and other components—found abundantly in apples—may act as protectors against such cancers by managing oxidative damage and cancer cell production, speeding the rate of cancer cell death, and suppressing tumor formation and growth.

Phytonutrients (pronounced “fight-o-nutrients”) are compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and other plants that researchers find have disease preventive and disease fighting properties.
Sources:
Johnson, I.T. Mutation Research/Fundamental & Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 2004; 551: 9-28
Nature 2000; 405: 903-904
Carcinogenesis 2005; 26(7): 1291-1295
pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/asap/abs/jf058010c
American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 166, Issue 8, Pages 924-931; doi:10.1093/aje/kwm172
Annals of Oncology 2005 16(11):1841-1844; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdi361

Brain Health

Feeling forgetful lately? Adding an apple or a glass of apple juice to your daily routine may just keep your brain on track. Several studies have looked at the connection between apples and brain health in mice. Recently, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) studied the effects of giving apple juice to mice with Alzheimer’s-like conditions. Their findings showed in one month, the mice on a diet including apple juice had improved brain function when tested in a maze. The researchers believe antioxidants found in apples helped to prevent the decline in the mice’s levels of acetylcholine – which is vital for communication between brain nerve cells.

The study concluded that eating more antioxidant-rich foods, like apples and apple products, could help prevent a decline in memory and brain function. Next steps will be to confirm this theory in humans and long-term studies. In the meantime, an apple today may keep you from forgetting your doctor’s appointment tomorrow! Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD, LDN
Source: A. Chan, V. Graves and T.B. Shea, Apple juice concentrate maintains acetylcholine levels following dietary compromise. J Alz Dis 9(2006), 287-291.

Heart Health

Women of all ages are encouraged to consume more fruit and vegetables, including apples and apple products for heart health. In a study of over 34,000 women, apples were found to be one of three foods (along with red wine and pears) that could decrease the risk of mortality for both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. The findings of this study are promising, as worldwide, cardiovascular disease is the largest single cause of mortality among women.

Apples contain flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties that are linked to the reduction of oxidation of the bad (LDL – low density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Flavonoids are compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and certain beverages that have beneficial antioxidant effects. The consumption of foods containing flavonoids has been linked to numerous health benefits.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 3, 895-909, March 2007

Fruit Juice and Obesity Myth

Recent studies suggest that there is no connection between 100% Fruit Juice intake and obesity in children. In fact, studies show that children who drink 100% Juice had a better, overall healthier diet than those that did not drink 100% Juice.

There is a misconception that juice contains added sugar; but 100% Fruit Juice contains naturally occurring fruit sugars – meaning sugar that comes from the fruit itself. 100% Juice does not contain added sugars or high fructose corn syrup. Plus, 100% Fruit Juice, in particular 100% Apple Juice, contains important phytonutrients that are beneficial to health.
Source: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2008; 162: 557-565

Asthma/Wheezing Reduction in Children

Research concludes that mothers who eat apples during pregnancy may protect their children from developing asthma and childhood wheezing.

In addition, research from The National Heart and Lung Institute found that children who drank Apple Juice at least once a day were half as likely to suffer from wheezing (compared to those drinking Apple Juice less than once a month). The flavonoids in Apple Juice helped to calm the inflammation in the airways, which is a key feature of both wheezing and asthma. This is good news, as statistics show asthma to be the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15 and is among the leading causes of school absenteeism.
Sources:
Eur Respir J 2007; 29:1161-1168
Thorax. Published Online First: 27 March 2007. doi:10.1136/thx.2006.074187

Visit our Fruit Servings section for more information on how you can get more apples into your diet.