According to a new study, eating an apple a day could reduce the risk of developing multiple types of cancer by as much as 25%.
Scientists have just proven that people who eat at least one apple per day are less likely to develop oral, colon, lung, and breast cancer than those who rarely eat apples, which means that this simple fruit really can help to keep the doctor away!
How do they know?
Experts from the University of Perugia in Italy reviewed the results from 40 previous studies and discovered a link between eating fruit and reducing the risk of cancer.
Apples were found to reduce the risk of developing tumors by 50%, especially in the esophagus and digestive tract. They also reduced lung tumor rates by 25% and breast tumor rates by 20%.
The results of the study were published in the Public Health Nutrition journal and concluded that people who consumed the most organic plant matter, such as apples, had the lowest rates of cancer.
Researchers said: “This provides convincing evidence of the protective ability of apples against lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract and breast cancers. But more studies will be needed to clarify the effects in other anatomical sites.”
Why?
A diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables has been linked to better health throughout history, but until now there has been little proof about which plant foods are considered to be the most beneficial.
During the study, researchers focused specifically on apples because they are one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world and surprisingly found out that they are one of the most beneficial for health as well.
“Because of the peculiar chemical composition and the potential molecular mechanisms involved, it is possible that some types of fruits and vegetables may be much more strongly associated with cancer risk than others. Our interest was attracted by apples as they are the most consumed fruit, especially in European countries, and they are such a rich source of phytochemicals,” said the team.
Phytochemicals are naturally occurring plant compounds that have long been associated with having anti-cancer benefits.
Apples offer plenty of fiber, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and phytochemicals, which makes them one of the most powerful weapons against the development of cancer cells.
Just one apple meets up to 17% of the daily dietary fiber requirement, which helps to keep the digestive tract clean and functioning optimally. Apples are also high in pectin, which is a soluble fiber that helps to keep cholesterol levels in check and keeps the cardiovascular system strong.
One of the flavonoids, known as quercetin, has been linked to improving lung function and significantly reducing respiratory issues, such as asthma. Apples are also high in Vitamin C, offering up to 15% of the daily requirement per serving, which helps to boost the immune system and keeps cells healthy.
Which apples are the best?
There are more than 7500 varieties of apples in the world and because they all contain the same powerful compounds they are all considered to be highly beneficial for your health!
Eating one to three apples per day is recommended, especially in reducing the risk of developing terminal illnesses, such as cancer.
Sources:
https://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?id=16477
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/benefits-of-apples-cancer-cells-1469.html
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nalini-chilkov/cancer-prevention-_b_3972729.html
