An ‘apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is one of the most common food and nutrition advice given. However a recent study has indicated that apples may be useful as a natural weight loss food.
Polyphenols are a group of antioxidants commonly found in apples at high concentrations. More precisely, within the skin of an apple a powerful form of polyphenol called phloridzin is found. Apples rich in phloridzin have shown several health benefits such as preventing glycation and it has the potential to burn abdominal fat.
Glycation is the term given to the process by which sugars and carbohydrates in the bloodstream attach to proteins to form large hazardous molecules. These large molecules have the ability to clump together to damage cells, arteries and tissues within the body. Commonly, in most chronic degenerative diseases these ‘advanced glycation end products’ (AGEs) are found; AGEs are known to contribute to increased oxidant stress and inflammation, and these may be linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Likewise, AGEs are suggested to be a likely cause for accelerated ageing.
Phloridzin exerts its affects by inhibiting the sugar from entering the circulatory system via the small intestine. In the absence of sugar within the circulatory system, glycation cannot occur. Up to 52% of sugar uptake is prevented by phloridzin, as demonstrated by one study.
As a consequence of a reduction in sugar uptake by the circulatory system, the body is more inclined to burn fat. In another study, patients whom consumed 600mg of phloridzin daily for a period of 16 weeks lost 8.9% of their body fat. When compared to the placebo group, the individuals within this group gained 3.3% fat during the same period of time.
Despite apples having a bad reputation for raising blood sugar, the reality is that this fruit burns fats and balances sugar levels.
So including apples regularly in one’s diet is one of the most important food and nutrition advices and furthermore is can also be regarded as a natural weight loss food.
Polyphenols are a group of antioxidants commonly found in apples at high concentrations. More precisely, within the skin of an apple a powerful form of polyphenol called phloridzin is found. Apples rich in phloridzin have shown several health benefits such as preventing glycation and it has the potential to burn abdominal fat.
Glycation is the term given to the process by which sugars and carbohydrates in the bloodstream attach to proteins to form large hazardous molecules. These large molecules have the ability to clump together to damage cells, arteries and tissues within the body. Commonly, in most chronic degenerative diseases these ‘advanced glycation end products’ (AGEs) are found; AGEs are known to contribute to increased oxidant stress and inflammation, and these may be linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Likewise, AGEs are suggested to be a likely cause for accelerated ageing.
Phloridzin exerts its affects by inhibiting the sugar from entering the circulatory system via the small intestine. In the absence of sugar within the circulatory system, glycation cannot occur. Up to 52% of sugar uptake is prevented by phloridzin, as demonstrated by one study.
As a consequence of a reduction in sugar uptake by the circulatory system, the body is more inclined to burn fat. In another study, patients whom consumed 600mg of phloridzin daily for a period of 16 weeks lost 8.9% of their body fat. When compared to the placebo group, the individuals within this group gained 3.3% fat during the same period of time.
Despite apples having a bad reputation for raising blood sugar, the reality is that this fruit burns fats and balances sugar levels.
So including apples regularly in one’s diet is one of the most important food and nutrition advices and furthermore is can also be regarded as a natural weight loss food.