HEALTH, Black Touchez Blog
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, goes the
saying.
But a new study has found more specifically,
that a Granny Smith a day could be the key to preventing obesity.
The bright green, crisp variety helps people
feel full, inhibiting the urge to eat.
They were found to promote friendly bacteria,
which invokes the feeling of being full.
The study, published in the journal Food
Chemistry, revealed that the non digestible compounds in the fruit, which
include fibre and polyphenols, do not get broken down by stomach acid.
When they reach the colon they are fermented by
bacteria in the colon which helps friendly bacteria in the gut to grow.
Scientists at Washington State University tested
several different varieties of apple on mice, to see which caused the most
growth of friendly bacteria.
Granny Smiths worked better than Golden
Delicious, Gala, Braeburn and other popular varieties, they discovered.
The variety, known for its slightly tart
flavour, had a particularly high fibre content and compounds like polyphenols
which do not break down when eaten, they reported.
The team analysed mouse droppings after feeding
the animals, some of which were obese, different types of fruit.
They discovered the balance of bacteria in the
colon of obese people is often 'disturbed' in a way that can disrupt the
metabolism and make people feel hungry.
It was revealed that the faeces of overweight
mice that had eaten Granny Smith apples had changed and become similar to that
of slim mice.
The discovery could lead to future treatments
for weight problems.
Professor Giuliana Noratto, from Washington
State University said: 'We know that, in general, apples are a good source of
these non digestible compounds but there are differences in varieties.
'Results from this study will help consumers to
discriminate between apple varieties that can aid in the fight against obesity.
'The non digestible compounds in the Granny
Smith apples actually changed the proportions of fecal bacteria from obese mice
to be similar to that of lean mice.'
The discovery could help cut disorders linked to
obesity, including low grade inflammation.
'What determines the balance of bacteria in our
colon is the food we consume,' said Professor Noratto.
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