Apples are seen at RAJPOJ company
Apples are seen at RAJPOJ company, near Grojec August 4, 2014. Moscow announced its ban on most fruit and vegetable imports from Poland on Wednesday following the European Union's decision to impose sanctions targeting Russia's banking, oil and defence sectors because of the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine. Poland is the world's largest exporter of apples with more than two-thirds of them going to Russia. The statistics office put the value of Poland's apple exports to Russia last year at 273 million euros ($366 million). REUTERS/Filip Klimaszewski (POLAND - Tags: POLITICS AGRICULTURE BUSINESS) Reuters

You have probably heard the phrase, "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." A new study has found that an apple a day also keeps obesity and other obesity related disorders away as well. This is the first study that analyses the compounds in apple cultivars grown in the Pacific Northwest, according to the research team at Washington State University.

Scientists have found that apples contain a lot of nondigestible compounds. But they differ in different varieties of apples. The study has made a clear difference between different varieties of apples and their health benefits. Food scientist and the study's lead researcher, Giuliana Noratto stated that the study would help people differentiate between the different varieties of apple, giving them the ability to choose those varieties that help "fight against obesity."

Pointing towards the Granny Smith apples, researchers found that it contained a high amount of nondigestible compounds and can aid in weight loss. The nondigestible compounds cause the growth of friendly bacteria in the colon. It contains low amount of carbohydrates; researchers found that even after the whole process of digestion occurs, these compounds remain unaffected. After they reach the colon, the bacteria ferments them and this makes it feasible for the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut.

Noratto said that their study has found that Granny Smith contained the largest amount of nondigestible compounds, compared to other varieties of apple such as Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Red Delicious.

A study on mouse showed that compounds in the Granny Smith apples, "changed the proportions of fecal bacteria from obese mice to be similar to that of lean mice," said Noratto in the study paper.

Explaining about obesity Noratto said that bacterial communities are present in human beings, but in obese people they are disturbed in the colon. This results in microbial byproducts, they are the main cause for disorders related to obesity, she stated. This could be controlled or balanced by changing the type of foods that is consumed. The research found that disorders such as low-grade chronic inflammation that can lead to diabetes can be prevented with the consumption of these apples.

"Re-establishing a healthy balance of bacteria in the colon stabilizes metabolic processes that influence inflammation and the sensation of feeling satisfied or satiety," she said.

The study is published in the journal Food Chemistry.