Shakeology Ingredient Education of the Day
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Apple powder is a white substance and contains pectin. Pectin is a carbohydrate found in apple skins, from which apple powder is made. Scientific studies show that apple powder may have health benefits. However, the advice of a medical professional should be sought before trying to prevent, treat or cure any condition with apple pectin.
Apple powder may help to protect against colon cancer. A study published in April 2008 in “Nutrition” found that apple pectin led to the formation of butyrate by the intestinal flora. Butyrate is important because it triggers apoptosis, or the death of cancerous cells, within the colon.
Inflammatory bowel disease refers to a group of disorders of the colon and small intestines including Crohn’s disease. Some of the symptoms of irritable bowel disease are diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Apple powder may help to protect against inflammatory bowel disease. Mice with this condition had less diarrhea after being fed apple powder for three months in a study published in 2009 in the “British Journal of Nutrition.”
Apple powder may also help to lower the risk for cardiovascular disease. A study published in May 2008 in “Physiology & Behavior” found that apple pectin powder lowered LDL levels. This is significant because LDL, or the “bad” levels are linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Also, the apple powder did not disturb HDL, or the “good cholesterol” levels.
Scientific evidence points to apple powder as a source of antioxidants. A study published in June 2008 in “Scientia Horticulturae” found that apple peel contains antioxidants that remain stable through storage. Antioxidants are important because they protect cells of the body from damage that results as a natural outcome of cellular metabolism. When cells perform chemical reactions, an unstable compound called a free radical is produced. Free radicals pose a threat to health and contribute to the aging process, because they attach to healthy cells and damage or kill them.
Apples benefit your health by boosting your intake of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps you make collagen, a protein found abundantly in your skin. Collagen is a crucial structural component of skin and helps maintain your skin’s waterproof barrier. Low collagen production caused by vitamin C deficiency affects your skin, leading to a re-opening of old wounds and skin tearing. A large apple contains 10.3 milligrams of vitamin C, 14 percent of the daily vitamin C requirements for women, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, or 11 percent for men.
Apples also provide a source of copper, an essential mineral that contributes to healthy skin. Copper helps you make melanin, the brown-black pigment that colors your skin. Melanin in your skin protects you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, so being able to produce melanin provides natural sun protection. Melanin also makes up an essential part of other tissues, including your eyes and hair. Each large apple contains 60 micrograms of copper, or 7 percent of your daily copper requirements, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Apples provide a small amount of skin-friendly vitamin A, a family of chemicals called retinoids. Vitamin A plays an important role in skin development — it helps immature skin develop into mature and functional skin tissue. Vitamin A might also reduce the risk of skin cancer, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, although more research is needed to know its exact role in cancer prevention. A large apple provides 120 international units of vitamin A. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, this makes up 5 percent of the daily vitamin A requirements for women or 4 percent for men.
~ Reduce symptoms of Inflammatory bowel disease
~ Lower Risk of cardiovascular disease
~ Improves components for healthier skin
~ Reduce skin cancer