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What's New
Study Shows Apples Flavonols Prevent and Reduce Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
Eating flavonol-rich foods like apples may help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, says a team of international researchers. Quercetin, found naturally in apples and onions, has been identified as one of the most beneficial flavonols in preventing and reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer. Although the overall risk was reduced among the study participants, smokers who consumed foods rich in flavonols had a significantly greater risk reduction.
Apples on Food Network's Unwrapped
Want to find out what happens when Fuji apples are made into a sparkling soda at company called Essn? Watch the show Unwrapped on Food Network, July 23 at 9 PM ET/PT, and you will find out this and more about the apple! Host Marc Summers explores apples when he visits Stemilt Growers in Washington to learn about the apple's journey from the grove to the store, Chudleigh's to bake its apple blossom pie and Mussleman's to find out how apple butter got its name. Viewers will also get a peek at Crunch Pak pre-sliced apples and the apple's 'dangerous' past at the National Apple Museum. Don’t forget to watch Unwrapped on July 23!
USApple, The Art Institute Celebrate American Heart Month with Apples (February 15, 2007)
 Students in the culinary program at The Art Institute of Washington are dreaming up some delicious and nutritious ways to add more apples to your diet, all in celebration of American Heart Month. Apples are high in antioxidants, which have been linked to better heart health. USApple is partnering with The Art Institute in this exciting recipe contest, the winning recipes will be featured on this website. Click here for a sample recipes from one of The Institute’s star instructors.
UMass-Lowell Research Shows Benefits of Apples and Apple Products on Neurotransmitter Affecting Memory (August 2, 2006)
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, discovered that apples and apple products may increase the production in the brain of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory.
The study was published in the August 2006 Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and can be found at http://www.j-alz.com/issues/9/vol9-3.html
UCDavis study finds apples may protect against heart disease and cancer (May 10, 2006)
Researchers from the University of California-Davis found that apples and apple products have protective properties that could prevent damage to human cells. Distinctive nutrients found in apples and apple products protected cells from destruction by fighting off unwelcome intruders in the body. This protection from apples and apple products could lead to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
This study was published in the May 2006 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine and is available online at:
http://www.ebmonline.org/cgi/gca?sendit=Get+All+Checked+Abstract%28s%29&SEARCHID=1&AUTHOR1=Gershwin&FIRSTINDEX=0&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&gca=psebm%3B231%2F5%2F594
University of Massachusetts, Lowell, study finds apples may protect against age-related memory loss (Jan. 19, 2006)
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, found that the consumption of apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet, may protect against oxidative brain damage that can lead to memory loss. Aged mice that consumed diets supplemented with apple juice demonstrated significantly better performance on maze tests and also exhibited less oxidative brain damage than mice on a standard diet. The study was published in the December 2005 Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and the abstract can be found at http://www.j-alz.com/issues/8/vol8-3.html.
Cornell Study Finds Apples May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk (Mar. 1, 2005)
Cornell University has conducted the first-ever study on the direct effects of apples on breast cancer prevention in animals. In this study, led by Dr. Rui Hai Lui, Cornell Associate Professor of Food Science, the more apples consumed, the greater reduction in the incidence and number of breast cancer tumors. Research found that the phytochemicals present in apples may contribute to their anti-cancer activities. This study is available online at http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/asap/abs/jf058010c.html and is published in the March 2005 edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Cornell Scientists Provide More Food for Thought About Potential Apple Brain Health Benefits (Nov. 17, 2004)
Researchers from Cornell University in New York state report that apple nutrients -- and in particular, the flavonoid quercetin — protected brain cells from oxidative damage known to cause neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's. While it is too early to recommend changing your diet, their laboratory studies provide more evidence of apples' potential brain health benefits, to join the news reported by University of Massachusetts-Lowell in March. (See related news, below.)
Study: Apple Procyanidins Linked to Reduced Colon Cancer Risk (Nov. 10, 2004)
Taking a mouthwatering bite out of an apple may also take a bite out of colon cancer risk, according to new French animal research about procyanidins, a category of phytonutrients found abundantly in apples. While preliminary, this is the latest research to suggest apples may provide a range of gastrointestinal or "gut" health benefits.
2004 U.S. Apple Harvest Begins, USApple Urges Consumers to "Pick Apples!" (October 7, 2004)
As apple growers across the U.S. begin harvesting their crops, the U.S. Apple Association is urging consumers to "Pick Apples!" and vote for their favorite variety. USApple estimates that 221.6 million cartons of apples — about 86 apples per American — will come out of the orchards in the next few months. "We had great growing conditions across the country this year, and Americans will reap the tasty benefits," said Nancy Foster, USApple President and CEO.
New Study Finds that Apples May Improve Lung Function. (Aug. 10, 2004)
A new study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that eating foods rich in fiber and flavonoids — found most abundantly in apples — may reduce your chronic productive cough and other respiratory symptoms. The study was published in the August issue of the peer-reviewed American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Study: Apples May Have the Guts to Stand Up to Digestive Cancer (Aug. 5, 2004)
A newly-published scientific review reports that eating more fiber- and phytonutrient-rich fruits and vegetables — including flavonoids found most abundantly in apples — may significantly reduce the risk of developing digestive or "gut" cancers. Such cancers are one of the world's top causes of cancer-related illness and death. The review was done by the U.K.'s Institute for Food Research, and was just published in the peer-reviewed journal Mutation Research.
Source: Getty Images |
Apples: Food For Thought? (March 4, 2004)
Want to keep your brain on its toes? Then you may want to keep in mind that old adage about "an apple a day," according to new research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell that suggests that eating apples and drinking apple juice may improve memory and learning. Professor Thomas Shea's new work indicates that apple juice may protect the brain against oxidative damage that contributes to age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, and may help maintain brain performance — indicating that eating apples and drinking apple juice may impact our brain health and mental acuity throughout life. Dr. Shea's animal study was published in this month's international Journal on Nutrition Health and Aging.
Although studies involving humans are needed, many in the medical community believe that the evidence is clear: Antioxidants in foods such as apples can have a positive impact on brain health.
So that old adage about "an apple a day" may apply to brain health — food for thought!
* (reprinted here with permission of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell)
** Note: This audio clip is provided for our visitors' information only; reporters who are interested in the Audio News Release should contact News Broadcast Network's Peter Kastella, telephone (800) 940-6397
Thinking Low Carb? Think Again, High Fiber Study Suggests (Feb. 24, 2004)
Eating a couple of apples a day may significantly cut heart disease risk, according to a new study of the health benefits of fiber consumption — suggesting that such high-fiber carbohydrates should be embraced, not avoided, experts say. Researchers led by the University of Minnesota's Dr. Mark Pereira evaluated 10 studies involving more than 350,000 people, and found that for every 10 grams of fiber consumed per day, the risk of developing heart disease decreased 14 percent, and the risk of dying from heart disease decreased 27 percent. Fiber from fruits such as apples appeared to be slightly more protective than other sources of fiber, lowering the risk of coronary disease death by 30 percent. These findings make the case for increasing consumption of high-fiber apples and other foods for better health, joining previous research findings about high-fiber foods, the authors noted - and challenging the long-term wisdom of diets that discourage consumption of high-fiber carbohydrates in the process.
John Burwell for USApple |
Australian Researchers Report Apples May Reduce Asthma Risk (Sept. 16, 2003)
New research suggests we might breathe easier — literally — with apples. According to an Australian study just published in an American journal, apples may reduce the risk of asthma, though further study is needed. Click here for more information.
The 2003 U.S. Apple Harvest Has Officially Begun! (Sept. 3, 2003)
Apple growers across the country are now in the thick of the 2003 apple harvest. And there's lots that hot about this year's crop!Consumers can expect more tasty new varieties in addition to their old favorites, as well as new products coming to market like fresh-cut apple slices — all ideally suited for today's convenience-driven lifestyles, without sacrificing flavor and good health. All that, and there's great new health news suggesting apples may provide a "whole body" range of health benefits, from speeding up weight loss to slowing down hair loss. Click here to read more.
Source: Photodisc |
Try Nature's Toothbrush: An Apple A Day Keeps The Dentist Away
A cosmetic dentist at New York University says apples are the perfect teeth cleaning and whitening tool, reports Prevention magazine's website, Prevention.com. Click here to view article online. Link appears with permission of Prevention.com.
Apples May Melt The Pounds Away Faster
The apple of the famed old health adage may also help reduce the feminine pear shape more rapidly. Adding apples and pears to your daily diet may melt pounds away faster, according to new research from Brazil published in March 2003. Researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro studying the impact of fruit intake on weight loss report that overweight women who ate just 300 grams of apples or pears — that's the equivalent of three small fruits a day — lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn't add fruit to their diet. In addition, the fruit eaters ate fewer calories overall, boosting their weight loss efforts.
Finnish Researchers Report Apples Provide Whole-Body Health Benefits
Turns out whoever penned that centuries-old adage about "an apple a day" was right: A study published in September 2002 is reporting that components found in apples may keep the doctor away by reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and asthma.
UC-Davis: Apples Are Heart-Healthy
Researchers at the University of California-Davis recently reported that apples and apple juice may help protect arteries from harmful plaque build-up. In the first study conducted in humans, adults who added two apples, or 12 ounces of 100% apple juice, to their daily diet demonstrated a significant slowing of the cholesterol oxidation process that leads to plaque build-up – thereby giving the body more time to rid itself of cholesterol before it can cause harm.
Check out our An Apple A Day section for more information, and other recent apple health research news.
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