Epidemiological studies have linked apple consumption to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes.
Apple polyphenols are compounds found in apples, and these compounds have been suggested to have strong antioxidant activity, reduce lipid oxidation and also reduce cholesterol. Apple polyphenols may also help prevent oxidative stress, thereby reducing the risk of chronic disease and slowing aging.
Health Benefits of Apple Polyphenols
Allergy support
An allergic reaction occurs in response to the entry into the body of a foreign substance, the foreign particle is harmless, but the body reacts by creating an excessive immune response. Allergy symptoms can include sneezing, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and skin rashes. Allergies are common in humans and are believed to affect more than one in four people in the UK at some point in their lives.
Scientific research indicates that apple polyphenols have beneficial activity against allergic rhinitis - commonly known as hay fever. In one study, 33 people with persistent allergic rhinitis experienced significant improvement in sneezing and runny noses when taking a low or high dose of apple polyphenol extract.
These results show that the polyphenols in apples can provide relief from hay fever, giving patients options other than medications to control allergies.
May Relieve Dermatitis
The skin is the first line of defense to protect the body from external aggressions, ultraviolet rays, radiation, chemical attacks and bacterial infections. The skin consists of two basic layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis faces the external environment and is responsible for acting as a barrier. While the dermis lies beneath the epidermis and is responsible for maintaining the skin's foundations and biological functions.
The anti-allergic effect of apple polyphenols has been evaluated in patients with atopic dermatitis - also known as eczema. Significant improvement in dermatitis, chapped, itchy skin was observed in healthy patients who received additional doses of 10 mg per kg of body weight per day for 8 weeks 3.
It can be concluded that apple polyphenols are an excellent natural remedy for relieving the symptoms commonly experienced by people suffering from eczema.
May Improve Cholesterol Levels
Apple polyphenols may contribute to the heart health benefits by positively affecting cholesterol metabolism in people with a high body mass index. In one study, 71 participants received 600 mg per day of hop or apple polyphenols, which were compared to a placebo over 12 weeks. The polyphenol consumption of hops and apples was compared. The results indicate that the effects of the capsules containing apple polyphenols were better than those of hops, as they reduced both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol 4.
These results show that people with poor cholesterol metabolism can benefit from apple polyphenols over a 12-week period.
Blood Sugar and Weight Management
Being overweight is known to lead to changes in the body's metabolism. The changes that occur can cause adipose tissue to release fat molecules into the bloodstream, affecting the cells responsible for insulin and leading to a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
In one study, visceral fat levels were assessed over a 12-week period, and participants were given 600 mg of apple polyphenols or a placebo. Research from this study showed that apple polyphenols are able to reduce the transcription of genes involved in the formation of fatty acids, which leads to increased destruction of fat that wraps around the abdominal organs inside the body.
These results show that apple polyphenols can promote fat loss in people who want to lose weight, but the polyphenols must be used in combination with a healthy diet and a large amount of exercise to achieve healthy weight loss.
Support Physical Performance
Scientific research indicates that the antioxidant properties of apple polyphenols may improve fatigue and physical performance.
One study included 18 healthy volunteers who were randomized to receive 1,200 mg per day of oral apple polyphenols, 1,000 mg per day of ascorbic acid or a placebo for 8 days. Volunteers had to perform strenuous physical exercises using a bicycle accelerometer for two hours on two occasions. It is suggested that muscle exercise enhances the production of radicals and other reactive oxygen species, which are responsible for exercise-induced protein oxidation and contribute to physical fatigue.
These findings may explain why eating apple polyphenols relieves physical fatigue through its antioxidant benefits.
Dental Care Support
Good oral hygiene can be maintained through daily brushing and flossing, without proper oral hygiene bacteria growing and thus leading to oral infections. Studies have indicated that the polyphenols present in apples effectively prevent plaque formation. It is suggested that apples produce a rapid response by reducing bacterial saliva levels, similar to those obtained with a toothbrush.
In one study, children participated in determining whether brushing their teeth alone or with eating an apple would reduce plaque formation. The children participated in brushing their teeth for two minutes in the first control group and then two minutes with eating an apple in the second control group. The second control group had a greater reduction in dental plaque than the first group.
These results indicate that the decrease in plaque formation could be due to the activity of polyphenols present in apples. It can be concluded that the polyphenols present in apples can have similar effects to a toothbrush, in that they produce an immediate reduction in the viability of salivary bacteria.
Is The Polyphenol Content the Same for all apples?
The nature and content of polyphenols found in food sources will be influenced by several factors. For apples, variety, farming practices, harvesting and, if possible, the extraction process will be among the factors that contribute to the concentration of polyphenols. The low proanthocyanidin (OPC) content in Applephenon is 70%, for comparison, Royal Delicious apples contain between 0.2 and 0.5% of polyphenols 9. The difference is that commercial apples are bred to increase their natural sugars for a sweeter taste, whereas Polyphenols have a bitter and pungent taste.
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