AN APPLE A DAY REALLY DOES KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY!
Fresh fruits can help battle cancer & heart disease
THINK those old wives’ tales are a crock? Think again — an apple a day may very well keep the doctor away and lead to a longer, healthier life!
That’s according to a team from Edith Cowan University’s School of Medical and Health Sciences in Western Australia, which studied data from more than 53,000 Danish citizens collected over 23 years.
The scientists found people who regularly ate flavonoidrich foods — like apples — had a reduced risk of developing heart disease and cancer!
And the protective effects of the inflammation-fighting, plant-based compounds were even more pronounced in
people who were more likely to experience chronic diseases due to heavy alcohol and tobacco use!
“These findings are important as they highlight the potential to prevent cancer and heart disease by encouraging the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, particularly in people at high risk of these chronic diseases,” says lead researcher Dr. Nicola Bondonno.
“But it’s also important to note that flavonoid consumption does not counteract all of the increased risk of death caused by smoking and high alcohol consumption. By far the best thing to do for your health is to quit smoking and cut down on alcohol.”
The study results suggested the recommended daily amount of flavonoids is 500mg, which Bondonno says can be readily found in a variety of tasty foods.
“This is easily achievable through the diet: one cup of tea, one apple, one orange, 100g of blueberries and 100g of broccoli would provide a wide range of flavonoid compounds and over 500mg of total flavonoids,” she explains.