APPLE DIET

The fibre in the apple, found in the Pectin has two parts, one soluble, the other insoluble:

The insoluble portion of Pectin improves bowel health by increasing the bulk and water content of the bowel.

The soluble apple pectin fibres are transformed into a gel in the gut. These soluble pectin gel fibres stabilise blood sugar (and thus is particularly good for Type 2 diabetics), reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. They also provide an ideal environment for colon friendly bacteria.

RESEARCH

• Research at the John Hopkins Medical Institute found that soluble fibre lowers both cholesterol (interestingly, only the ‘bad’ part of cholesterol, called LDL, but not lowering the ‘friendly’ cholesterol HDL) and blood pressure. Oats and apples both provide excellent soluble fibre for the gut.

• Research in Russia compared two groups of patients hospitalised with serious gut infections. One group was given antibiotics, and the other antibiotics and apple pectin. The second group were discharged 2-3 days sooner, on average. Pectin has a bacteriostatic effect.

• A Ukraine study found that apple pectin binds toxic heavy metals in the gut, preventing them from being absorbed into the body.

• Yet another study found that apple pectin reduced inflammatory disease of the gut.

• An inverse association may exist between lung cancer risk and foods containing quercetin, found in high concentrations in apples and onions. More apples and onions, less lung cancer.

• Researchers have found an inverse relationship between lung cancer risk and food sources high in a key substance, quercetin, found in onions and apples.

• A study of 2512 Welsh coal minors found that lung function improved significantly with consumption of five apples per week.

Mechanisms of Action.

1. The antioxidant quercetin plays a major role in affecting lung function and lowering the risk of lung cancer.
2. Apple Pectins have been shown to have a pronounced anti-mutagenic effects. They protect cells from cancerous change.

3. Apple pectin decreases the incidence and number of colon tumours by lowering a destructive enzyme which forms a key step in carcinogen activation and tumour initiation in the colon.

4. Apple pectin is a bulk-forming agent and prevents both diarrhoea and constipation by a similar mechanism.

5. Pectin in the apple diet modifies intestinal toxic bacterial enzyme activity in the gut, contributing to a protective effect against colon cancer.

6. Soluble fibre such as that found in apple pectin is known to decrease inflammation as measured by a a blood test for C-reactive protein. This protein has been associated with wide spread diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Fruits rich in pectin include the peach, apple, currant, and plum.

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