Not that apples have ever been bad for you, but a scientific study has proven that eating apples on a daily basis (in this case, slices of dried apples) will not only lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol in post-menopausal women, but also other levels of proteins that might put them at risk. Even better — while apples added 240 calories to their diets, the women who were studied actually lost weight. So, it’s official: that “apple a day” adage is scientific fact.
The study entailed 160 women who ate either dried prunes or dried apples over a course of six months. The women who ate apples ended the study an average of 3.3 pounds lighter and lowered their “bad” cholesterol levels by 23% (their HDL, or “good” cholesterol, rose about 4%). In addition to that:
These women also saw their levels of C-reactive protein (a measure of potentially dangerous inflammation) and lipid hydroperoxide (which can signal higher risk for cardiovascular problems) fall.
The reason behind the study was to see if the effects of pectin and polyphenols, which, respectively, speeds up metabolism in animals and “dials back production of inflammatory molecules” had the same effect in humans. So far, it looks like this is, indeed, the case. So, what’s the next step?
The next step, the researchers said in a statement, is to expand the study to women across the country to test whether the old adage holds up.
Does this mean that real scientists have become the Mythbusters?
Published: Apr 13, 2011 03:15 pm