1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but
biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.
2. Avoid Alzheimer’s
A new study performed on mice shows that
drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain.
Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher
levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze
tests than those on a regular diet.
3. Protect against Parkinson’s
Research has shown that
people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s,
a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s
dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free
radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.
4. Curb all sorts of cancers
Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that
the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent.
Researchers at Cornell University have identified several
compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth
activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their
earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the
number and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National
Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to
reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
