Everybody knows that apples are healthy, but there's a new reason to reach for the green ones: In a recent study, researchers from Washington State University compared seven common apples varieties and found that Granny Smiths are more likely than other kinds to help fend off health issues related to obesity, reduce your risk of diabetes, and maybe even promote weight loss.
In the study, researchers separated and measured different components of Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh, and Red Delicious apples to see which contained the most bioactive compounds, non-digestible parts that reach the colon intact and promote the growth of healthy bacteria. While all apples had some of this good stuff, Granny Smith apples contained the most.
In a second part of the study, the researchers compared the kinds of bacteria in droppings of obese and lean mice before and after feeding them the special apple compounds. (Stool contains evidence of gut bacteria, FYI.) Initially, researchers found that obese mice had different kinds of bacteria than lean mice. But after the obese mice ate the apple compounds, their bacteria began to resemble that of the lean mice.
Previous research has shown that certain bacteria found in obese people's guts can make them absorb more calories from food and make them more prone to weight gain. While more research is needed, the new findings suggest that eating Granny Smiths could balance out this bacteria in obese guts to facilitate weight loss and protect against health issues associated with being overweight, like inflammation and diabetes.
Before you start a green apple cleanse (for the record: BAD IDEA), remember that the subjects in this study were mice, not people. There's no guarantee that humans will react to apple compounds the same way.
But until more research is done, it can't hurt to get more green apples into your diet.
0 comments :
Post a Comment