If you want to find the best bacteria for your intestines, you may want to be organic. The researchers found that fresh organic apples may contain more diverse and balanced microbial communities than traditional apples.
The study also suggests rethinking throwing away apple cores. The research team used gene sequencing to analyze the bacterial communities living in different parts of Austria's golden delicious apple (arlet). They found that,
Most bacteria live in the core of apple, including seeds (about 38 million), calyx tips (22 million) and stem tips (6.5438+million). Birgit Wassermann, the first author of this paper, was published in the journal Microbial Frontiers on June 24th. He said that the pulp contains about 20 million bacterial cells, while the peel only contains 6.5438+0.6 million bacterial cells.
That's why researchers recommend eating the whole apple, including the stone piled up by bacteria. Wassermann is a doctoral student in Gabriele Berg Laboratory of Graz Technical University, Austria.
The microbial community of organic apples is also superior to traditional apples in "diversity", which can affect the taste of fruits.
"As we all know, Methylobacter (a bacterium) can increase the flavor of apples," biologist and biotechnologist Berg said in a statement. "The biosynthesis of strawberry flavor compounds is obviously more abundant in organic apples." Delicious compounds accumulate in the peel and pulp of fruits.
The organic apples tested also contain a fairly balanced proportion of various bacteria, which may help prevent any species from surpassing other species.
"The organic management of apple's highly diverse microbial community may limit or hinder the enrichment of human pathogens," the researchers wrote in their paper.
Many organic apples contain probiotic lactic acid bacteria, a kind of intestinal bacteria, which does not exist in conventionally planted and managed apples. Most traditional apples contain a group of bacteria with known pathogens, which may be harmful to human health. Wassermann said that the microbial and antioxidant properties of fresh products may one day become standard nutritional information, which will be displayed with a large number of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to guide consumers. The author said that future research may also reveal the differences of microorganisms among different apple varieties and how the microorganisms carried by fruits support the diversity of intestinal bacteria.
Because the tested apples are produced in Austria, the results may not be applicable to apples in other regions.
This study was conducted by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. The authors indicate that they have no financial or business relationships that may lead to conflicts of interest.
Six simple ways to eat more fruits and vegetables, nine new ways to keep your heart healthy 10 methods to promote children's healthy eating habits were first published in Live Science.