Eating one apple daily may help improve heart health

If you want to protect yourself from heart diseases such as heart attack and stroke as you age make it a habit to eat an apple daily. This was revealed in a new medical study.

A joint study by Harvard Medical School (USA), the University of California and the University of Reading (UK) found that including apples, plums, blueberries and cherries in the daily diet along with green tea can help improve heart health.

These foods are rich in natural compounds called flavonols which reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The study found that less than 20% of people consume enough flavonols required for heart health even if they eat a relatively large amount of fruits and vegetables.

Without sufficient flavonol intake, heart health benefits may not be achieved. The research analyzed dietary data from more than 30,000 people to assess how much flavonol they consume daily.

According to the study, flavonols significantly reduce the risk of death from heart disease but only when consumed in adequate amounts. Researchers further explained that most people assume that simply eating fruits and vegetables is enough for good health but the results show that flavonols play a crucial role.

The researchers recommended eating one apple daily or drinking one cup of green tea as part of a regular diet. They emphasized that increasing fruit and vegetable intake alone is not sufficient selecting specific foods is important for heart health.

Foods such as plums, blackberries, green tea, cherries, apples, strawberries and blueberries contain high levels of flavonols. The study findings were published in the journal Food & Function.