Key points:
- Science formally proves a 150-year old health proverb true.
- Compounds in apples have significant health benefits.
Healthy lifestyle choices like regular exercise and proper nutrition are generally considered the first steps toward a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, many physicians also prescribe statins, a class of drugs that lower cholesterol levels and protect against hardening of the arteries. Previous studies have found a clear correlation between these drugs and a general reduction in mortality from vascular causes.
Proverb measured against science
‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ has been a public health message delivered by parents and teachers since the 19th century. Apples, a rich source of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, are widely consumed and epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of apples with a reduced risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma and diabetes. In the laboratory, apples have been found to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, decrease the oxidation of fats and lower cholesterol.
In a new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), researchers from the University of Oxford released their findings on whether the proverbial Victorian wisdom of an apple a day could compare with the more widespread use of statins in primary prevention.
To determine whether a daily apple can have a similar protective effect against vascular mortality as statins, adults over 50 years old in the UK were prescribed either a statin or an apple a day. In a surprise finding, apples managed to rival statins in preventative medicine when it comes to lowering the burden of cardiovascular disease. With a similar reduction in mortality, it was found that a 150-year old health promotion message is truly able to match modern medicine and is likely to have fewer side effects.
Apple-polyphenol supplements
RyChol, a natural product developed to help combat high blood cholesterol levels and help you to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, contains a blend of various plant-derived (phytochemical) ingredients that have each been recognised to help lower blood cholesterol levels in a unique and individual manner. Its multi-modal pharmaceutical action is achieved through the selective blocking of various biochemical pathways that are involved in saturated fat digestion, cholesterol absorption as well as cholesterol excretion. Taken at the recommended daily dosage, RyChol delivers the equivalent of apple polyphenols that will equate to that contained in apples. Read more about RyChol
References:
- Briggs ADM, Mizdrak A, Scarborough P. A statin a day keeps the doctor away: comparative proverb assessment modelling study. BMJ 2013;347:f7267 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7267 (Published 17 December 2013)
- Boyer J, Liu RH. Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits. Nutr J. 2004 May 12;3:5.
- Nagasako-Akazome Y, Kanda T, Ohtake Y, Shimasaki H, Kobayashi T. Apple polyphenols influence cholesterol metabolism in healthy subjects with relatively high body mass index. J Oleo Sci. 2007;56(8):417-28
- Pandey KB, Rizvi SI. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2009 Nov-Dec;2(5):270-8.
