An Apple a Day Keeps Cholesterol at Bay

We’ve all said it before…”An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

But did we really believe it?

Well, it’s true.

Research from Ohio State University finds eating a single apple each day for four weeks can improve your LDL cholesterol by an amazing 40%.

These low density lipoproteins are often pointed out as the “bad guys” when it comes to your heart health. But they are critically important to your health. They travel through your bloodstream and do their best to repair damage to your arterial walls.

However, they do have a “dark side.”

“When LDL becomes oxidized, it takes on a form that begins atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries,” said lead researcher Robert DiSilvestro, professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University.

The research involved a group of healthy patients who ate apples less than twice a month.

During the four-week study, 16 of the participants ate a large Red or Golden Delicious apple daily. Another 17 participants took capsules containing 194 milligrams of polyphenol extract – a type of antioxidant found in apples. The final 18 subjects took a placebo containing no polyphenols.

The placebo had no effect on oxidized LDL cholesterol. Taking capsules containing polyphenols had some effect. But it wasn’t nearly as much as eating a fresh, ripe apple.

According to DiSilvestro this could either be because there are other things in the apple that contribute to the effect. Or these bioactive compounds might be better absorbed when they’re consumed in foods.

No matter which is true, the evidence is clear…

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away!

Dana Nicholas is a writer, guest blogger, and consultant for Nutri Health Supplements. Dana is passionate about helping people enjoy more active, vibrant lives through nutrition and supplementation. Visit Nutri-Health at www.nutri-health.com