A striking West Australian fruit might reduce inflammation and even improve blood glucose management, write ZOE DELEUIL.
Have you noticed the dark purple Bravo apple in supermarkets recently? Developed right here in the world-class apple-growing region of Manjimup, Western Australia, the Bravo is in season until the end of December.
A cross between a Royal Gala and the West Australian Cripps Red apple, Bravos have only been available in supermarkets for a few seasons. Sweet, acidic and crisp, they are the result of more than two decades of research and development.
But what really sets the Bravo apart? Its high level of polyphenols. This is the reason its flesh doesn’t turn brown as quickly as other apples, making it great for our health as well as for anyone packing school lunchboxes.
What are polyphenols and why do they matter?
Polyphenols are a group of compounds found in many plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, coffee and even chocolate. Polyphenols help protect our bodies from damage, with research suggesting they may support healthy blood glucose levels and reduce inflammation, two important factors for lowering the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Now, Associate Professor Ruey Leng Loo and her team at the Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) at Murdoch University are running a trial to see if Bravo apples can make a significant difference to people’s health.
“To date, human intervention studies on apples have yielded contradictory results,” Dr Loo said.
“We will analyse the impact on blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels, as well as other cardiovascular disease risk indicators, to see how they influence health.”
The ANPC is a research hub that studies how our bodies respond to things like food, lifestyle and the environment. Instead of focussing only on genes, it focusses on tiny molecules in our blood and tissues – called metabolites – that reveal clues about our health. This helps scientists find better ways to prevent chronic conditions, personalise treatments and keep communities healthier.
Volunteers have eaten two Bravo apples a day for eight weeks, with the research team checking changes in blood glucose, cholesterol and signs of inflammation. They’re comparing these results with those of people eating pears, which are known to contain fewer polyphenols.
The research is still in early stages, but it’s an exciting step toward understanding how food affects health.
What does all this mean for the average supermarket shopper?
Diabetes WA dietitian Charlotte Rowley says that all of us, whether living with diabetes or not, should try to include a variety of colourful fruits and especially vegetables in our meals, as a diet rich in plants can help to reduce inflammation.
It’s also recommended that we ‘eat the rainbow’ to get the widest possible range of nutrients from our fruit and vegetables. The Bravo’s high levels of polyphenols make it an excellent choice, along with the fact that it’s locally grown.
“We know that most Australian adults aren’t eating their recommended amount of fruit and vegetables,” says Dr Rowley, whose PhD at the ANPC was on food science and nutrition. Therefore, choosing an apple that exceeds the norm in terms of polyphenols means we’re getting more bang for our buck.”
Do you want to learn more about eating well with diabetes?
Diabetes WA runs a range of free diabetes self-management programs, including face to face workshops and live online programs on behalf of the NDSS. You can book online or contact us on 1300 001 880.
And if you are living in Western Australia and have any questions about food choices and diabetes, you can call the free Diabetes WA helpline on 1300 001 880.
