Twitter      Youtube      Facebook     
HomeArticles › Apple Fiber Pectin

Apple Fiber Pectin

Apple tends to be one of the most cultivated tree fruits today and happens to have more than 7,500 cultivars with diverse characteristics. Its scientific classification consists of division - Magnoliophyta, class – Magnoliopsida, order- Rosales, family – Rosaceae, tribe – Maleae and genus - Malus. It is known under the bionomial name, Malus domestica. This fruit finds its largest production is United States followed by Iran , Turkey and Russia . Apple trees grow upto 12 meters and are deciducous in nature. Their leaves are alternately arranged in a simple form and are 5to 12 cm long. They mature in autumn with the fruit consisting of five carpels arranged in a five-pointed star. Every carpel consists of one to three seeds. The wild ancestors of these species are Malus Sieversii. Apples are ideally self-incompatible fruits and thus need to cross-pollinate for the fruit to develop. The growers of this fruit mainly develop pollination groups according to the climate of the place they are cultivated in.

Nutritional Analysis:

Apples are known to contain high concentrations of phytonutrients which function as antioxidants. This immensely helps in purifying the blood as well as the blood vessels, keeping the heart functions healthy. The maximum content of antioxidants lie in the skin. Other nutrients that find place in apples include catechin, phloridzin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid. Dietary fiber is another eminent ingredient that makes apples. This is made up of both insoluble fiber which is cellulose as well as soluble fiber called pectin. Both these fibers help control the LDL cholesterol levels. Besides, flavonoids form another important element of apples. They help in the protection of antioxidants and take care of unwanted inflammation in the body.

Health Benefits:

Lung Support – Apples are known to reduce asthma to a great extent. The phloridin contained in the apples are also known to be highly supportive in maintaining the overall functioning of the lungs.
Apples are a unique combination of fiber, antioxidants and flavonoids unlike other fruits and hence are extremely beneficial to the human body.
Cancer: Apples are likewise known to be very beneficial in fighting lung cancer. Clinical studies have found them to combat cancers of the colon and breasts as well.

References

Bazzano LA, He J, Ogden LG, Loria CM, Whelton PK. Dietary fiber intake and reduced risk of coronary heart disease in US men and women: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Arch Intern Med. 2003 Sep 8;163(16):1897-904 2003.

Boyer J, Liu RH. Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits. Nutr J. 2004 May 12;3(1):5. 2004. PMID:15140261.

Cho E, Seddon JM, Rosner B, Willett WC, Hankinson SE. Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Jun;122(6):883-92. 2004. PMID:15197064.

Consumers Union of United States, Inc. Do you know what you're eating? An analysis of US government data on pesticide residues in foods. Consumers Union of United States, Inc. Edward Groth III, PhD, Project Director, Charles M. Benbrook, PhD, Consultant, Public Service Projects Department, Technical Division. Feb 1999 1999.

Dai Q, Borenstein AR , Wu Y, Jackson JC, Larson EB. Fruit and vegetable juices and Alzheimer's disease: the Kame Project. Am J Med. 2006 Sep;119(9):751-9. 2006. PMID:16945610.

Davis PA, Polagruto JA, Valacchi G, Phung A, Soucek K, Keen CL, Gershwin ME. Effect of apple extracts on NF-kappaB activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Exp Biol Med ( Maywood ). 2006 May;231(5):594-8. 2006.