n apple a day keeps stroke at bay. That is what new research of nutrition suggests.According to this report, men and women who ate the equivalent of one apple per day had lower risk of stroke than individuals who did not eat apples.
The researchers analysed food intakes of more than 9,000 healthy men and women who ate more than 54 gm of apple per day and women who ate more than 71 gm of apple per day — equivalent of one apple a day. All were above the age of 15 years. They had lower risk of stroke than those with lowest apple intake.
While it is not clear why apples appear to lower stroke risk, the authors suggest that lifestyle factors such as good diet and exercise habits, which may be associated with eating apples, of other beneficial compounds in the fruit, may play a role. One speculative possibility is that the effect comes from some phenolic acids presenting apples.
Whatever the reason, lower risk of stroke does not appear to be result of quercetin, an anti-oxidant found in apples. Previous studies have reported a link between intake of flavonoids, a group of anti-oxidants that includes quercetin, and decreased risk for several chronic diseases.
According to results, men who developed a stroke over the 28 years follow up consumed 3.57 mg of quercetin a day compared with just 3.68 mg a day for men who did not have a stroke. Women went on to have a stroke consumed 4.09 mg of quercetin a day compared with 4.07 mg a day for other women.
Though the results suggest that the intake of apples is related to a decreased risk of thrombotic stroke. This association apparently is not due to the presence of quercetin. The suggestive protective effect of apple intake may thus be due to some other substances in the fruit or simply to life style associated with apple intake.
Based on the findings it is recommended that people continue to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, “since it is apparent that this will protect us from cardiovascular diseases and some cancers.”
— Dr G.S. Grewal
