Apple juice 'protects the heart'

Apples include a beneficial compound.

     An apple juice a day could keep a trip to the heart doctor away, says new research. A team of researchers at UC Davis School of Medicine in the US have found that drinking apple juice appears to slow down a process that can lead to heart disease. Compounds in apples and apple juice called phytonutrients act in much the same way that red wine and tea do to delay the break down of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. When LDL oxidizes, or deteriorates in the blood, plaque accumulates along the walls of the coronary artery and causes atherosclerosis (a dangerous thickening of the artery).
     A very moderate intake of apple juice has the potential to reduce risk factors for heart disease in a fairly short period of time.  Dianne Hyson, UC Davis School of Medicine Lead researcher Dianne Hyson, a dietician, said: "Previous studies have shown that eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease. But this is the first clinical study to show the potential benefits of active compounds in apple juice and apples."
     Although the researchers expected to see positive results from drinking apple juice, they were surprised to find beneficial effects after only six weeks.
Ms Hyson said: "A very moderate intake of apple juice has the potential to reduce risk factors for heart disease in a fairly short period of time. "This small diet change might play an important role in a heart healthy diet."

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