This is what two apples a day can do to your heart
Why eat one when you can have two? This is probably what came before British researchers who looked at how it could benefit your heart health. That's what they found
This is what two apples a day can do to your heart
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Apple a day keeps the doctor away (at least an American saying goes), but new research suggests eating two apples is more beneficial, as it can reduce people's risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The study by the Nutrition Unit at the University of Redding, Berkshire, England included 40 people aged 20 to 69 who were high in cholesterol and had blood tests before and after the experiment. The subjects were asked to eat two large apples a day for eight weeks, leading to an average reduction of 'bad' cholesterol by almost four percent. The researchers say the findings have shown that eating apples reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack, which can be caused by the accumulation and hardening of cholesterol in the arteries.
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To the full articleTwo large apples contain about a quarter of the recommended daily amount of fiber that nourishes the bacteria in the gut that may reduce cholesterol levels. Apples contain other components that contribute to health, such as vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and antioxidants. Aside from the effect that apples have on cholesterol-lowering, it is also found that they may reduce the risk of developing several cancers, including lung and colon cancer. In addition, they help to calm the stomach because they are digested fast.
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In the present study the researchers compared two groups: the first one ate two apples a day while the second one drank apple juice containing the same amount of calories. At the end of the study, researchers found that the group of people who ate big apple-rich polyphenols every day had a 3.6 percent reduction in bad cholesterol levels compared to people who drank the apple juice. And all in eight weeks.
Not like a cure, but also good
Although this falls far short of the effect of taking statins, drugs that generally reduce cholesterol by 30-55 percent, this small dietary change may still help reduce people's risk of cardiovascular disease.
Experts believe that the type of fiber found in apples nourishes important gut bacteria that cause the production of short fatty acids that may lower liver cholesterol production. These gut bacteria may also change the form of bile salts produced in the liver and pass into the small intestine, where they aid in digestion of the fats through a process called lipid lubrication. Once absorbed from the intestine, bile salts are transferred to the liver for reuse.
The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women may earn more than men from eating two apples a day with regard to cholesterol, although further studies are needed to confirm this.