An Apple a Day Keeps the Calories Away?

A new study indicates that eating just one apple per day can help to curb your intake of calories. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University tested how the consumption of apples in different forms affects calorie intake, and found that people who ate an apple about 15 minutes prior to lunch consumed 190 fewer calories than when they didn't have an apple.

Researchers had 59 normal weight men and women come into their lab for approximately five weeks for both breakfast and lunch. Before lunch, the participants were given either: nothing, 1 1/2 medium peeled cut-up apples (125 calories), or a similar caloric amount of applesauce, apple juice with added fiber or apple juice without added fiber. 15 minutes later, they were given an entree of cheese tortellini and tomato sauce. Those who at the raw apple ate 187 fewer calories than when they had applesauce, juice, or nothing.

Julie Flood, a researcher at Penn State says, "This suggests that eating something like a piece of fruit that's low in calories before your meal might be a great strategy for reducing calorie intake. It looks like solid fruit is more filling than fruit juice, and people perceive them differently. They look at an apple and think it's going to fill them up."