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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Whether you bite them, cook them, slice them or top them with peanut butter, new research shows regular consumption of apples, applesauce and apple juice significantly reduces one's risk of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a defined as a cluster of three or more conditions including high blood pressure, increased waist size and abdominal fat, all linked to chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It affects an estimated 36 million Americans.
The results come from an analysis of adult food consumption collected in the 1994-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study and is being presented at this week's Experimental Biology 2008 meeting.
According to Victor Fulgoni, Ph.D., who analyzed the data, people who ate apples and apple products had a 27 percent lower likelihood of getting metabolic syndrome than people who didn't eat apples.
He also noted that apple eaters have smaller waistlines, which mean less abdominal fat and lower blood pressure. They also have significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels which are a measurable marker for cardiovascular risk.
Finally the data showed that apple product consumers ate healthier diets, which included more fruit and key nutrients including dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium and potassium. Need more convincing? The apple devotees also ate less total fat, saturated fat, discretionary fat and added sugars.
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SOURCE: 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting in San Diego, Calif., April 5-9, 2008
