Health-Happy Apples

Reach for the right apple to get ahead of the nutrition game.

Researchers recently assessed the antioxidant capacity of eight different apple varieties and found Red Delicious apples to be highest in two powerful flavonoids, epicatechin and procyanidin. These flavonoids are especially abundant in apple peels, so wash them well and eat the skins.

All apples pack a health punch, regardless of variety. Although much of the nutritional punch of apples is found in the skin, certain nutrients reside in the flesh, too. In recent studies, researchers found two powerful flavonoids in Red Delicious apples, but they were mainly in the skins. Another compound with strong antioxidant activity -- hydroxycinnamic acid -- was found in the flesh. Two phenols found in the apples, epicatechins and procyanidins, have superior antioxidant capacity and may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other conditions. Before you eat your apple, wash it thoroughly under running water with a vegetable brush to remove wax and contaminants.

Which polyphenolic compounds contribute to the total antioxidant activities of apple? Tsao, R., Yang, R., Xie, S., Sockovie, E., Khanizadeh, S., Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2005 Jun 15;53(12):4989-4995.

Polyphenolic profiles in eight apple cultivars using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Tsao, R., Yang, R., Young, J. C., Zhu, H., Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2003 Oct 8;51(21):6347-6353.