< previous page | page_57 | next page >
Page 57
| cholesterol; it also specifically zooms in on LDL cholesterol, the kind that clogs arteries and keeps blood from reaching vital organs. |
| How much good can apples do your cholesterol leveland your heart? Researchers have found that eating two apples a day can lower cholesterol levels by up to 16 percent. Another much-cited study showed that men who consumed an apple a day, along with two tablespoons of onion and four cups of tea, had a 32 percent lower risk of heart attack than those who ate fewer apples. |
| F.Y.I. |
| The sugar in apples is mostly fructose, a simple sugar that's broken down slowly and helps keep blood sugar levels stableso apples are good for diabetics, too. |
| The antioxidant vitamin C in apples helps strengthen the body's immune defenses. |
| Their fiber content helps fill you up, making them a great choice if you're trying to shed a few pounds. |
| The smell of apples has a calming effect on many people and even helps lower blood pressure. |
| Cancer Protection |
| Apple skin contains a large supply of a compound called quercetin, an antioxidant that may help prevent heart disease. |
| The antioxidants quercetin and vitamin C help prevent the free radical damage that can lead to cancer. |
| Apples also get some of their cancer-fighting power from pectin. Researchers believe that pectin may attach itself to environmental pollutants that make their way into the bodysubstances such as lead and mercuryand help flush them out. And the insoluble fiber in apples may help prevent diverticulosis and colon cancer. By relieving constipation (see below), fiber also helps flush out dangerous substances in stools that might otherwise lead to cancer. |
| Digestive Aid |
| The insoluble fiber in apples (a.k.a. roughage) helps relieve constipation, and as mentioned above, it thereby helps prevent colon cancer. At the same time, apples' soluble fiber helps treat diarrhea. (Some doctors prescribe the BRAT dietbananas, rice, |
< previous page | page_57 | next page >