US (WA): SCS Group to promote apples as prevention for diseases

The SCS Group, an agribusiness consulting firm which represents the Washington Apple Commission, is now gearing up to promote the consumption of apples as prevention and control remedy for chronic health conditions. The apples are cultivated in the valleys and plateaus of America’s far west, where the growers’ orchards combine certain nutrients in a way that sets them apart from all other fruits and makes them a food of choice for achieving several health goals. The board of the commission is responsible for research activities and education, product promotion, advertising and development of domestic and international markets of Washington apples. The board coordinates an international marketing programme consisting of generic activities including trade and consumer promotion, to promote Washington apples and expand the worldwide demand for it.

Washington apples are enjoyed by people in over 50 countries including India. These are said to be rich source of phytonutrients known as quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. These phytonutrients help protect the cardiovascular system from oxygen-related damage. In addition, the high fibre content (pectic) in apples helps keep LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels low and under control. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 per cent, according to the commission. The fruit is also known to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and a study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to this condition. Going by the increasing rise in cancer, the commission has reports stating the fruit’s positive impact of prevention of lung, liver, breast and colon cancers. Researchers believe this is due to high levels of the flavonoids - quercetin and naringin in apples - which could reduce the risk, according to a press release by the company.

Further, apples have also been recommended for diabetes management. According to the commission, the pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes. For weight loss, the commission stated that in a Brazilian study, it was found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting. The commission has also stated that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. It is also recommended for asthma management. “One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.”

Source: fnbnews.com