Eating 2 Of This Common Fruit A Day May Lower Cholesterol

Selection of fruitsThere’s a lot to be said for the power of fruit and veg ― the NHS points out that getting your five a day could contribute to a decreased risk of stroke, bowel cancer, and heart disease. That’s partly because fresh produce is typically high in fibre, which has been linked to multiple health benefits (though only 10% of us eat enough – 30g – of the stuff a day). And according to a 2019 paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, two apples a day – which contain over 7g of fibre if eaten with the skin on – could help to lower cholesterol among people with mildly high levels. This was not seen among people who consumed apple juice in the study.What did the study find?Researchers gave participants, who had moderately high cholesterol, either high-polyphenol (specifically, proanthocyanidin-rich) whole Renetta Canada apples or a squash made from them. This drink had roughly the same amount of sugar and calories as the fruit, but it had less fibre (8.5g vs <0.5g) and fewer polyphenols (990mg vs 2.5mg).After the trial ended, those in the whole apples group saw 4% lower LDL cholesterol, often labelled “bad” cholesterol. And their markers for blood vessel health had improved, too. Writing in the Science Media Centre, Professor Tim Chico, a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine who was not involved in the study, said: “The effect on cholesterol was very small compared with drug therapy with statins, and so it is not clear whether this effect would lead to a decrease in heart disease or stroke”.Still, he added, “A high fibre whole food diet is already known to reduce the risk of a number of diseases, including cancer and heart disease”.Why might apples, rather than apple juice, improve heart health?Dr Thanasis Koutsos, who created the study, said: “We don’t yet know whether the fibre that is found in the apple or the polyphenol which is in significantly greater concentration in the apples we used is responsible for the results.“Either way, the clear winner here is the whole food.” This follows other studies that show juice is worse for us than eating the whole fruit. 2013 research suggested that daily fruit juice consumption might be associated with a 21% increased likelihood of developing diabetes, while consuming at least two servings of whole fruit a week saw a 23% risk decrease.Still, Professor Chico said, “Can people who need to take statins swap them for apples? No, not on the evidence of this study.“Should all people (whether on statins or not) eat more vegetables and fruit if they want to reduce their risk of heart disease? Emphatically yes, alongside taking more regular physical activity, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.”Related...Wait, Does Cranberry Juice Do Anything At All To Prevent UTIs?Is Orange Juice 'Bad' For You Or Not? Nutrition Experts Have Strong Thoughts6 Signs Of A Hole In Your Heart Adults Might Dismiss

Comments

Breaking news

Baby sleeping bags found for sale on Amazon and eBay pose a ‘suffocation risk’

Metro

Democratic leaders push for Congress to do more on school shootings: ‘Thoughts and prayers are not enough to prevent gun violence’

about 2 hours ago

Massachusetts cranberry bogs are being given a second life as vibrant wetlands

Independent

Comments

Similar News

This Eating Habit Can Be An Early Sign Of Dementia

Moment Just Eat delivery driver steals takeaway's food - before being sacked for doing it twice in one night

Orlando Bloom reveals the jaw-dropping truth behind his drastic weight loss - including the only two foods he was allowed to eat and HORRIFIC side effects

Everyone in UK urged to eat 32p fruit from September for important reason

Human Case of Flesh-Eating Screwworm Reported in Maryland

Scots dad was left unable to eat and extremely unwell after 10cm cancerous tumour found

Boy, 8, needs hypno-therapy after eating thousands of potatoes

Revolutionary new Ozempic WITHOUT injections: Breakthrough in EDIBLE treatment that burns fat while you eat

Tourist infected with flesh-eating New World screwworm after El Salvador holiday

Flesh-eating screwworm that has threatened US cattle has now been found in a person

American infested with flesh-eating worm in first-of-its-kind case

First Human Case of Flesh-Eating Parasite in US in Decades: What to Know

Boy, 13, DIES after eating uncooked instant noodles, sparking public health concern

US reports its first ever human case of deadly flesh-eating screwworm

Deadly flesh-eating screwworm found infecting person in US for first time in years

DR MAX PEMBERTON: As a psychiatrist I have treated influencers for eating disorders - here are the lies they're telling you...

Flesh-eating screwworm parasite detected in person in US for first time

What is Vibrio vulnificus? Symptoms explained as beachgoers warned about flesh-eating bacteria

Pub chef offers mum, 36, something to eat before she ends up in freezer for sexual kicks

My abusive ex-girlfriend banned me from eating or showering, forced me to drink mouthwash and scratched me until I bled - I'm speaking out so other men don't face the same abuse

Breaking news

Baby sleeping bags found for sale on Amazon and eBay pose a ‘suffocation risk’

Headmaster who hit deputy with a spanner over love triangle freed from prison

Evri delivery driver claimed £235,000 in benefits despite saying he couldn’t bend over

Inside the long-awaited £40,000,000,000 Crossrail 2 project in London

So THAT's Why Leaves Turned Brown So Early This Year

Alicia Vikander Reveals How She Really Feels About The Danish Girl 10 Years Later

Meghan Markle Names 1 Clothing Rule From Her Senior Royal Days She's Happy To Leave In The Past

'My Heart Is Just Breaking': Ukraine Mourns After Russia's Deadly Kyiv Strike Kills 15 People

What to know about cranberries produced for Thanksgiving and the bogs being restored to wetlands

Democratic leaders push for Congress to do more on school shootings: ‘Thoughts and prayers are not enough to prevent gun violence’

Massachusetts cranberry bogs are being given a second life as vibrant wetlands

Parents warned of HMRC deadline that could see them miss out on £1,354 a year

What is the global ‘sovereign citizen’ movement and why is it so strong in Australia?

Who is Dezi Freeman, suspected gunman on the run in rural Australia after two officers killed?

Rwanda says 7 deportees arrived from the US in August under agreement with Washington

Painting allegedly looted by Nazis during WWII spotted in real estate listing

DNA study reveals origin of world’s first pandemic

Man arrested after racially abusive messages sent to England star Jess Carter

Iconic sportscar manufacturer Lotus cuts 550 jobs

Police warning over misinformation after Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson share false claims about knife incident

A 'sea war' brews off Gambia as desperate local fishermen attack foreign vessels, and each other

US economy grows 3.3% in second quarter, government says, in second estimate of April-June growth

The country leading the UK and France in boycotting American goods

Photo highlights from the first and second rounds at the US Open

'America's nicest judge' Frank Caprio to be honored at public memorial services in Rhode Island

Heart-stopping moment police catch child jumping from window of burning house

Major healthcare equipment supplier sells product sales arm after insolvency

Asda says product availability in shops knocked by major IT upgrade

Italian women fight back against websites sharing unauthorized photos with obscene language

Trade minister visiting Japan and South Korea to boost economic ties

Gun rights influencer responds after Minneapolis shooting suspect praised him in video

Trees damaged by devastating wildfire used to rebuild Los Angeles homes

Nigeria bans exports of raw shea nuts used for cosmetic products to help grow local economy

Mystery surrounds $1.2 billion Army contract to build huge detention tent camp in Texas desert

Meghan Markle Has A Message For Critics Of Her Much-Maligned Netflix Series

King & Conqueror Stars Have Their Say Over 1 Major Criticism Of The Show

Harry Potter Director Has A Very Blunt 3-Word Message Ahead Of New TV Adaptation

Eating 2 Of This Common Fruit A Day May Lower Cholesterol

I've Been To Over 20 Homeschool Conferences. The Things I've Witnessed At Them Shocked Me.

I Tried The 90/90 Organisation Rule, And My Home Has Never Had Less Clutter

Fact check: Does Trump have ‘spies in Greenland’?

Police officer admits sexual activity with a girl, 14, over a year

Painting stolen by Nazis is found in an estate agent’s advert – before vanishing

Something strange has been spotted about the 3I/Atlas comet hurtling towards the sun

Is the Croydon cat Killer back? The gruesome incidents that hint ‘he never went away’

Boy, 17, fighting for life and another teen hurt in knife attack in Old Kent Road

Map reveals last sightings of tourist schoolgirl, 15, who vanished after travelling to London to see famous landmarks

Fury as Labour minister claims Brexit was never properly debated by the public while defending Starmer’s EU reset

Bankers found out they were being fired after email asking for their laptops to be returned sent by mistake

Blow for Elon Musk as Tesla sales fall 40% in Europe despite rise in customers buying EVs

The 20-minute exercise science says reduces stress – and you don’t even need to move

The simple habits that science says will make young people happier

Switzerland's top court upholds Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan's conviction for rape, sexual coercion

Victoria premier calls on suspected Porepunkah shooter to surrender as search enters third day

Main highway from Damascus to Sweida reopens to aid convoys weeks after Syria violence

Warning over Mounjaro ‘golden dose’ as users panic over shortages and soaring prices

Allowing ban on asylum seekers at protest-hit hotel could encourage more riots, Cooper tells court