We’ve all heard the adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but now researchers are taking this age-old wisdom into the lab to scientifically investigate the health benefits of apples!
Led by Dr Ruey Leng Loo, the study will examine the health of Australian Bravo™ apples on blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and other cardiovascular disease risk markers over an 8-week period.
Participants will consume Bravo™ apples and control fruits daily, with biological specimens collected for analysis.
“To date, human intervention studies on apples have yielded contradictory results. Our research aims to address this gap,” says Dr Loo.
Supported by the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), the project involves Fruit West Co-operative, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and Bruker BioSpin.
In addition to studying Bravo™ apples’ health benefits, the team at the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre will develop new apple products using high-pressure processing to extend shelf life while retaining health-promoting compounds.
Bravo™ apples, a cross between Royal Gala and Cripps Red, are renowned for their resistance to browning and high antioxidant content.
Ann Lyster, Chair of Fruit West Cooperative, emphasises the importance of this research:
“By providing robust scientific evidence, we can confidently promote the unique attributes of these apples, meeting consumer demands and growing their success both domestically and internationally.”
The study highlights a collaborative effort between researchers, the agrifood sector, and the community.
The local community is invited to be part of the Apple Study and can register their interest here.
