LET’S EAT: Apples. 100 million bacteria key to health benefits
July 27, 2019 • 1 min read
-- New research could explain why an apple a day keeps the doctor away. And it’s not just all those vitamins and polyphenols.
A new study in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology has discovered a startling amount of bacteria on our favourite fruit – some 100 million organisms per apple. But far from being a health risk, these bacteria are part of the reason why apples are so healthy.
Most bacteria were found on the seeds, stem, stem end, and calyx (the remnant of the apple blossom on the opposite end of the apple). Peel and pulp were less colonised.
While organic and conventionally grown apples contain similar numbers of bacteria, organic apples carry a more diverse array of bacteria – and a greater number of the beneficial variety, including Lactobacillus (also plentiful in yoghurt).
For people who think organic apples taste better than conventional ones, the team also reported finding more methylobacterium in the skin and flesh of organic samples. These bacteria have been shown to boost the biosynthesis of the flavour compounds in strawberries. Apples, too, perhaps.
Mmm… bacteria.