New animal research finds apple phytonutrients to be heart-healthy

Vienna, VA (May 8, 2008) - A new study shows that consumption of apples and apple juice may contribute to a healthy heart not unlike the often-touted purple grape and grape juice. The research was published in the April 2008 issue of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.

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WASHINGTON - The apples and apple juice you consume may have positive effects in one of the most unlikely places in the body – in the colon. New research has demonstrated that components in both apple pectin and apple juice actually enhance biological mechanisms that have anticarcinogenic effects in the colon.

Using human fecal matter as the test substance, German researchers Dr. Dieter Schrenk, M.D. and his colleagues hypothesized that the compound butyrate could be increased in the presence of apple pectin and apple juice extracts.

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By Anne Harding

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Drinking apple juice from concentrate daily may help ward off asthma symptoms in children, a study from the UK hints.

In a previous study, Dr. Seif O. Shaheen of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London and colleagues found that eating apples seemed to protect adults from developing asthma symptoms.

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LOWELL – For those who think that apple juice is a kid’s drink, think again. Apples and apple juice may be among the best foods that baby boomers and senior citizens could add to their diet, according to new research that demonstrates how apple products can help boost brain function similar to medication.

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Updated September 2006

• About 2,500 known varieties of apples are grown in the United States. More than 7,500 are grown worldwide.

• Nearly 100 varieties are grown commercially in the United States, but a total of 15 popular varieties account for almost 90 percent of 2006 production:

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Yesterday, the American Chemical Society (ACS) issued a press release about a new study claiming some apple varieties have a higher level of antioxidants and are therefore healthier than other varieties. Since this study is beginning to attract some media coverage, we wanted to bring it to your attention. The study, conducted by Canadian researcher Rong Tsao, Ph.D. of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Guelph, Ontario, will be published in the ACS scientific publication, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

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Nation’s Largest Food Chain Includes Apples in its Fruit ‘n Walnut Salad® Vienna, VA. — As apples continue to provide a multitude of health benefits, the U.S. Apple Association is excited to support the launch of McDonald’s new premium Fruit ‘n Walnut Salad®. The Fruit ‘n Walnut Salad is expected to move an additional 55 million pounds of apples from farm to consumer at all U.S. McDonald’s restaurants. In addition to crisp, sliced apples, this premium salad consists of red grapes and frosted walnuts, topped with a creamy, non-fat yogurt. The salad will be served all day, every day.

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USDA’s New Dietary Guidelines Advise Americans to Eat More Apples VIENNA, Va. -- The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) today praised The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for making apples and other fruits a key component of its redesign of MyPyramid, which offers consumers a plan for healthy eating, in accordance with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The new guidelines, unveiled today and found at www.mypyramid.gov, recommend eating two cups of fruit per day, which is approximately the equivalent of two apples.

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On March 1st, Cornell University’s breast cancer research was released via a press release to the media, with approximately 25-30 pitch calls by DomeHK to major media markets, focusing on key apple markets.  This research was conducted by Dr. Liu of Cornell University and was funded in part by USApple and APREC (Apple Products Research & Education Council).  USApple worked collaboratively with DOMEHK and Cornell Universities press and media staff to ensure adequate delivery of both the press release and video news release.  The press release was sent out on March 1st, and the video news release was available via satellite for newsrooms on March 2nd.  Approximately 80 calls were made by DomeHK to targeted newsrooms across the country for the video news release with a special emphasis on national TV outlets and key apple markets.  The study release resulted in excellent pick-up.  The most recent results of viewer reach are approximately 19million print impressions, 45 million online viewers and 4.5 million television viewers for a grand total reach of 69 million.

USApple is pleased to introduce our new
health brochure, "Apples: Take a Healthy Bite!" This brochure is
designed to get adult consumers on their way to the recommended goal of
"5 A Day" with delicious, nutritious apples and apple products. The
"Healthy Bite" brochure was favorably reviewed by the American Dietetic
Association's (ADA) Nutrition Education for the Public practice group.



Click here to download Healthy Bites brochure online (PDF format)

Vienna, Va. – Turns out whoever penned that centuries-old adage about "an apple a day" was right: A newly-released study is reporting that components found in apples may keep the doctor away by reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and asthma. Researchers at the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland, reported their findings in the September American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Their conclusions were based on ongoing research of 10,054 Finnish men and women that began in 1966. They sought to study the potential association between intake of the flavonoid class of plant-based "phytonutrients" and reduced risk of several chronic diseases. "Of all the main flavonoid sources, apple intake was associated with [a reduced risk of] almost all of the chronic diseases considered," the authors, led by Dr. Paul Knekt, wrote.

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VIENNA, Va. – The disease-fighting profile of apples got a boost last week as industry experts and scientists converged for the Fourth Annual Interpoma Conference, the International tradeshow for apple growing, storage, marketing and processing, that was held in Bolzano, Italy. The health benefits of apples have been on record since ancient times. The medieval physician's "bible," the Salerno Medical School's Prescription for Health, documented in 1100 A.D. the therapeutic properties of apples for ailments associated with the bowels, lungs and nervous system. More than 700 years later, in 1904, American fruit specialist J.T. Stinson coined the phrase "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", a modern variation on an Old English phrase.

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Vienna, Va. New research suggests that nutrients found abundantly in apples may have the "guts" to stand up to certain digestive cancers. A newly-published scientific review reports that eating more fiber- and phytonutrient-rich fruits and vegetables - including flavonoids found most abundantly in apples - may significantly reduce the risk of developing digestive or "gut" cancers. Such cancers are one of the world's top causes of cancer-related illness and death. Professor Ian Johnson of the U.K.'s Institute for Food Research reviewed the scientific literature regarding digestive cancers, and concluded that better diet - and especially diets rich in micronutrients, fiber and plant-based phytonutrients including flavonoids - can play a significant role in reducing the human toll caused by these cancers. His analysis was just published in the peer-reviewed journal Mutation Research.

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Vienna, Va. Hackers (and we don't mean the computer kind), take note: A new study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that eating foods rich in fiber and flavonoids — found most abundantly in apples — may reduce your chronic productive cough and other respiratory symptoms. Researchers analyzing whether diet might impact chronic productive cough — commonly experienced in persons with chronic respiratory symptoms such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — reported that high consumption of fiber and fruits, specifically apples, appears to be associated with a lower incidence of cough. Their findings suggest that promoting a high-fiber, high-flavonoid diet may help reduce chronic respiratory symptoms, both in smokers and non-smokers.

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Vienna, Va. — Taking a mouthwatering bite out of an apple might also take a bite out of colon cancer risk, according to new research just presented at a major international cancer research conference.

Eating apples may help reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by significantly reducing the growth of precancerous lesions in the colon, according to lead researcher Francis Raul, Ph.D., research director of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Strasbourg. Dr. Raul presented his group's findings at the American Association for Cancer Research's third annual international research conference in Seattle last month. Dr. Raul and his colleagues have found that procyanidins, plant-generated compounds found in high concentrations in apples and apple foods, reduced the number of pre-cancerous lesions in rats by nearly 50 percent. Procyanidins extracted from apples were added to the animals' drinking water, in a relatively low concentration of 0.01 percent.

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APPLES REALLY ARE GOOD FOR YOU!
Eating fresh apples is always good for you, but to get the full nutritional benefits associated with eating apples you should eat at least one fresh apple every day. The average U.S. consumer eats about 19 pounds of fresh apples a year — about one apple per week. Ongoing consumer attitude tracking in nine major markets across the United States has shown that Washington apples remain number one as far as consumers are concerned. According to a one report, 56 percent of those surveyed named Washington as the brand they look for when buying apples.

WHOLE-BODY HEALTH BENEFITS
Lower blood cholesterol, improved bowel function, reduced risk of stroke, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma.

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Cornell University has conducted the first-ever study on the direct effects of apples on breast cancer prevention in animals. In this study, led by Dr. Rui Hai Lui, Cornell Associate Professor of Food Science, the more apples consumed, the greater reduction in the incidence and number of breast cancer tumors. Research found that the phytochemicals present in apples may contribute to their anti-cancer activities.

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Today, researchers are finding even more evidence that “an apple a day keeps
the doctor away.”

You’ve always known that apples are good for you. At Mott’s, we want you to know why. Naturally fat free, cholesterol free and sodium free, apples provide many of the important vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients you and your family need to stay healthy. And today, researchers are finding even more evidence that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Heart-Healthy Fiber Apples are a good source of dietary fiber, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.* In fact, just one medium apple provides about 3 grams of fiber or more than 10% of your fiber needs for the day.

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Studies around the world have shown that the fiber, antioxidants, and other natural components of apples and apple products may be linked to numerous potential whole-body health benefits.

Apples are naturally fat free, saturated fat free, cholesterol free and are a good source of fiber — making them a smart dietary choice. The FDA recognizes that “diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in fruits, vegetables and grain products that contain some types of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer, diseases associated with many factors.”

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We're all familiar with the age-old saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." But, do you know why this frequently uttered phrase is true?

According to nutritionists, both apples and apple products are loaded with a variety of nutrients that have been shown to help maintain your health:

- Just one apple contains as much soluble fiber as a piece of whole wheat bread or a half cup of raw broccoli. This type of dietary fiber has been shown to both help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

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