Australian scientists have discovered that regularly eating apples helps lower the risk of heart disease by as much as 10%, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

University of Western Australia researchers found apples are rich in a skin pigment called flavonoids, which are beneficial to the heart.

Professor Jonathan Hodgson said this particular compound helped improve circulation, the story reported.

"The high flavonoid apples resulted in an almost doubling of the nitric oxide concentrations and a significant increase in the ability of blood vessels to relax.

"Diets which are higher in these flavonoids are associated with lower risks of heart disease or having a stroke," he was quoted as saying.

Pink Lady apples were identified as having the highest levels of flavonoids, although other apples also registered high levels of the compound.

Photo: Plantnet.com.au

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