Health
Benefits of Apples Revealed in an Animal Study
February 11, 2010
The health benefits of apples are revealed in a
recent animal study. It has been known for some time that fruits
process health benefits to our body in many ways, but few researchers
have looked at what it actually does to the inside of the gut.
Pectin is the dietary fiber component found in fruits such as whole
apples. It is known that dietary fiber is essential for maintaining
intestinal health.
Rats give 7% of apple pectin in their diet for 14 weeks showed
significant increase in the numbers of health friendly bacteria found
in the
gut. There was also a large increase in the amount of butyrate produced
by these gut friendly bacteria. Butyrate is a chemical substance used
by the gut wall as an energy source.
Keep in mind that the researchers did not find that taking apple juice,
puree or pomance helped. It was the pectin that seemed to have done the
trick.
Indeed an apple a day can keep the doctor away. This promising health
benefit of apple will need to be checked in human studies. But for now,
an apple a day can keep the vet away from the rats.
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