Elizabeth Renter

A fruit with over 7,500 varieties, apples actually originated in Asia, but you wouldn’t know it today as they are some of the most widely cultivated fruits in the world. But whether you like the tart Granny Smiths, the sweet Red Delicious, or the juicy Gala—these apples are providing you with numerous benefits you didn’t even know about, including cancer prevention.

Several studies in the past several years have linked these crunchy fruits to a lower risk of cancer and even cancer cell death.

According to researchers with Finland’s National Public Health Institute, people who consume the most apples are the least likely to develop cancer. They followed nearly 10,000 cancer-free subjects for several decades and found that those who eat the greatest number of flavonoid-rich foods (including apples) had a 20% reduced risk of developing cancer. Lung cancer risk was a whopping 46% lower than in those who are little to no flavonoid rich foods.

Flavonoids aren’t the only beneficial compounds in these fruits, however. Oligosaccharides are a form of complex carbohydrates found within the fruit that are said to encourage cancer cell death. Chinese scientists found that oligosaccharides actually triggered apoptosis, or cell death. It’s how the body kills diseased cells naturally and apples assist in this process. In addition, the scientists found oligosaccharides may stop the forming of new cancer cells, suggesting apples and their derivatives could play a role in both cancer treatment and prevention. In the end, these compounds were found to kill up to 46% of human colon cancer cells and even outperformed chemo drugs.

As if these studies didn’t offer evidence enough, researchers with Cornell University identified 12 different compounds in the peels of Red Delicious apples, each one responsible for inhibiting cancer cell growth or even killing the cancerous cells. Previous research from the same university found that apples can reduce the growth and number of breast cancer tumors.

The bottom line here is that scientists have found several different mechanisms through which apples may help fight cancer. In order to reap these benefits, simply eat apples.

“We believe that a recommendation that consumers eat five to twelve servings of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables daily is appropriate to reduce the risks of chronic diseases, including cancer, and to meet nutrient requirements for optimum health,” said Rui Hai Liu, associate professor of food science with Cornell University.

Additional Sources:

DailyMail

Journal – Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

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