healthbriefs
An Apple A Day
T
here’s truth in the adage
that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Research published in the open access journal BMC Micro- biology con- tributes to our understanding of why apples are good for us.
If you want 1 year of prosperity, plant corn. If you want 10 years of prosperity, plant trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, educate people. ~ Chinese proverb
Microbiologists from the National Food Institute at the Technical Univer- sity of Denmark fed rats a diet rich in whole apples or apple juice, purée or pomace. Another group of lab animals was put on a control diet. The research- ers then analyzed the animals’ digestive systems to see if eating apples had any impact on the amount of friendly bacte- ria in their gut.
“We found that rats eating a diet high in pectin, a component of dietary fiber in apples, had increased amounts of certain bacteria that may improve intestinal health,” says co-researcher Andrea Wilcks. “It seems that when apples are eaten regularly and over a prolonged period of time, these bac- teria help produce short-chain fatty acids that provide ideal pH conditions for ensuring a beneficial balance of microorganisms. They also produce a chemical called butyrate, which is an important fuel for the cells of the intestinal wall.” Ultimately, a healthy digestive tract translates into a stronger immune system.
Source: BioMed Central, 2010 22 Collier/Lee Counties
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