A new study has found that apples, one of the most common everyday fruits, can help improve cholesterol levels.
According to a report by the Daily Record on the 6th (local time), eating apples consistently every day can have a positive effect on improving blood cholesterol levels.
When cholesterol — a fatty substance in the blood — builds up excessively, it accumulates on blood vessel walls, causing them to harden and narrow. Impaired blood circulation raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. While genetic factors can contribute to high cholesterol, a diet high in saturated fat is widely cited as a leading cause.
A research team at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom recently conducted an eight-week study in which 40 participants ate two apples a day. The researchers then observed changes in cholesterol levels and vascular function. The results showed that participants' cholesterol levels decreased significantly, and their blood vessels became more relaxed and healthier.
"It turns out the saying that eating an apple a day is good for your health is right," said Julie Sherborne Sherwood Lovegrove, a professor who participated in the study. Athanasios Koutsos, a researcher also involved in the study, said, "A simple change of adding apples to your daily diet can have a meaningful impact on heart health indicators."
The study was published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Apples contain procyanidins, an antioxidant compound in the flavonoid family, which help lower levels of "bad cholesterol." Pectin, a soluble dietary fiber abundant in apple skin and cores, is also effective in improving blood cholesterol. Various antioxidant compounds in apples also play a positive role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and in maintaining brain function.
However, eating apples alone is not enough to lower cholesterol levels. It is important to reduce fatty foods and consume a balanced diet including oily fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains. Regular exercise and abstaining from alcohol and smoking are also necessary to see meaningful results.
