Apples May
Combat Bad Cholesterol
(March 13, 2005)
In new research that offers further evidence that eating apples may help
reduce heart disease risk, scientists at Cornell University have found that
the fruit may have a dual benefit on blood cholesterol.
In a study using human liver cells, the researchers showed that
antioxidants found in apple extracts
could potentially lower "bad" cholesterol (LDL, low density lipoprotein) by
stimulating the production of LDL receptors in the liver. This, in turn,
helps remove cholesterol from the blood; the mechanism is similar to that of
cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, the researchers said.
The study also found that apple
extracts prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a
potentially more deadly form of bad cholesterol associated with an increased
risk of heart attack and stroke.
Another study by the same researcher found that eating apples may help
prevent breast cancer in animals.
The three study findings were presented Sunday at the American Chemical
Society meeting in San Diego.
Source:
Yahoo News
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