Apples appear to be good for the lungs Children who drink plenty of apple juice may be less likely to develop asthma symptoms, say scientists. The National Heart and Lung Institute research, published in the European Respiratory Journal, is the latest study to link apples and lung health, a private TV channel reported.
Children who drank apple juice at least once a day were half as likely to suffer from wheezing as those drinking it less than once a month, it found. Eating fresh apples themselves gave no apparent benefits, the study concluded. There is some evidence that a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins is good for asthma
The study looked at five to 10-year-old schoolchildren in the Greenwich area of London, asking their parents about their child's fruit intake, and about any symptoms they had suffered.
While no link was found between apple juice consumption and a reduced chance of an actual asthma diagnosis, the link between wheezing and drinking the juice was quite strong.
The appearance of wheezing symptoms is one of the most important signs that a child is at increased risk of asthma, although many with the symptoms are not eventually diagnosed with the illness.
A similar, but weaker, benefit was found for children eating bananas at least once a day compared with less than once a month.
The apple juice involved did not have to be fresh apple juice - long-life juices made from concentrate were also effective.
It was possible that 'phytochemicals' in apples, such as flavanoids and phenolic acids, were helping to calm the inflammation in the airways which is a key feature of both wheezing and asthma.
Why a link between eating apples themselves and reduced asthma symptoms - already spotted in other research in adults - did not appear among these children. "Further studies are needed to confirm the protective effects of apple juice from concentrate and bananas.
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