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Apples Improve Heart Health
The old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ has been proved accurate as a new study shows that apple consumers reap numerous heart health benefits.
Apples may prove to be a winner when it comes to reducing the risk of heart disease, says a new study of more than 34,000 women, thanks to their unique flavonoid content.
In this study, flavonoid-rich apples were found to be one of three foods (along with red wine and pears) that decrease the risk of mortality for both coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among post-menopausal women.
In the UK, heart disease, including heart attacks, is the leading cause of
death for both sexes, accounting for one in five male deaths and around one in six female, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Women of all ages are encouraged to consume more fruit and vegetables, including apples and apple products, for heart health. However, this study focused on postmenopausal woman, a group becoming more aware of the risk for heart disease.
As a result of the extensive analysis that considered what the women ate, the types of cardiovascular-related diseases they experienced, and the overall flavonoid content of an extensive list of foods, the researchers concluded that consumption of apples, pears and red wine were linked with the lowest risk for mortality related to both CHD and CVD.
Flavonoids are compounds found in small quantities in numerous plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, tea, wine, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and especially apples, which contain a wide variety of flavonoid compounds.
Earlier research has indicated that flavonoids have antioxidant properties that are linked to the reduction of oxidation of ‘bad’ low density lipoprotein cholesterol, which has been linked with the development of CVD.
Apples are also rich in Vitamin C, increase your life expectancy and prevent certain types of cancer. (Read more: Seven Foods For Longevity).
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