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An apple a day keeps the cholesterol away

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Apples may be a "miracle fruit" for individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results, according to a new study from researchers at Florida State University. Their findings show that an apple a day not only keeps the doctor away, but it also results in dramatic decreases in bad cholesterol.

Bahram H. Arjmandi, who led the study, said that apples are full of antioxidants and fiber, both of which have been shown to benefit heart health. In addition to reducing cholesterol levels, these nutrients have been shown to bring down inflammation in the body, which is a leading cause of chronic diseases.

For the study, researchers asked a group of 160 women between the ages of 45 and 65 eat either one dried apple or a comparable amount of dried prunes every day for a year. They administered cholesterol tests throughout the study.

By the end of the investigation, women who ate apples every day saw a 23 percent reduction in LDL, or "bad," cholesterol levels. They also experienced a dramatic reduction in C-reactive protein levels, which are a marker of inflammation. No such gains were noted in women in the prune group.