Apples Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

A group of German researchers recently concluded that apples and apple juice can help you avoid colon cancer. In your body, the fruit causes biological mechanisms to produce compounds that have anti-carcinogenic effects in your colon.

The researchers published their findings a few months ago in the journal Nutrition. They believe that apple pectin (a soluble fiber and natural gelling agent) and apple juice extracts increase the level of a compound called butyrate. This compound is a “chemopreventative metabolite that might prevent the occurrence of colorectal cancer.” Butyrate works to decrease histone deacetlyases (HDAC).

So, what does that mean? The smaller amount of HDAC produced, the less growth of precancerous cells and tumors. The lead author of the study, Dr. Dieter Schrenk, M.D., and his team made the following concluding statement, published in Nutrition:

“Apples are a major source of natural fiber and of low molecular weight polyphenols in the Western diet. Pectin-rich apple products can thus be expected to exert anticarginogenic effects in the colon.”