Like good against evil, there's a constant mini battle going on in your gut—between good bacteria and bad bacteria. And this fruit can help determine the winner: apples.
Apple skins have a type of fiber called pectin, and research shows that this fiber helps turn your colon into an environment where healthful, beneficial bacteria can thrive.
A Good Support System
Good bacteria: Your GI system needs the stuff in order to function properly. Studies also suggest that good bacteria—called probiotics—may boost immunity and other helpful body processes. Now, research shows that what you eat could help create an environment conducive to the growth of these good bacteria.
Probiotic vs. Prebiotic
Enter pectin. Your body can't digest apple pectin; instead, the pectin ferments and changes the environment inside your colon, tipping the balance in favor of the good guys. Compounds like pectin that set the stage for probiotics are called prebiotics. Other good sources of prebiotics include asparagus, chicory root, garlic, onions, and oats.
