An old wives tale?
We don’t think so!...What’s it got going for it then?
As ever it’s the magic plant chemicals that get us excited. An apple has plenty – from quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid and phloridzin – oh and gallic acid! Whew! And, mostly concentrated in the peel. Sounds like double dutch? Maybe so but they speak their own language when it comes to health.
As a group of ninja anti- oxidants these polyphenols found in apples are able to block a signalling molecule called VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor). This little beast is responsible for something called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the growth of blood vessels from already existing blood vessels and is a crucial step in the progression of cancer and hardening of the arteries. Wow, who knew the apple had such power!
Quercetin is a really strong anti- oxidant thought to give protection from heart disease and cancer too. This could be because of its ability to reduce inflammation in the body. It also acts as an anti- histamine- so useful in allergies. This particular compound is also thought to protect brain cells from damage and may be useful in Alzheimer’s prevention.
Apples are a great source of pectin. Pectin is just a natural fibre that helps keep things moving along in the digestive tract. This property means it can help lower cholesterol by binding to it and preventing its absorption into the blood stream. It can also lower the risk of diabetes by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates and sugars.
Did you know...
Eating 5 or more apples a week has been found to have a significant effect on lung function so take a deep breath and keep the doctor at bay by munching an apple every day!
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