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Crazy for fruits
Translated from Le Journal de Montréal, June 20, 2016
The innate attraction of humans to fruits is due to our
ability to identify certain odours produced by ripe fruits
which lead us to consume them. This dining cue has a
considerable importance for our health, since recent
studies have shown that regular consumption of fruits has
some unexpected benefits for our health.
Many types of plants store their genetic material in the form of
fruits which, if they are fertilized, allow the plant to reproduce.
This strategy is based on the fundamental principle of the
reproduction of species, linked to evolution.
From the animal’s point of view, these fruits contain many
nutrients (sugar, vitamins, minerals, phytochemical compounds)
and their consumption by the animal is beneficial for its health.
From the plant’s perspective, the seeds remain intact during their
passage through the digestive tract of the animal, so the
consumption of the fruit permits the plant to disperse seed over
long distances and to occupy new ecological niches, which permits
better evolutionary survival. It’s a win-win situation which benefits
both of the species involved!
These reciprocal benefits strictly require that the fruits can be
easily detected by the animals and it is for this reason that they are
often highly coloured or give off an attractive odor. Recent
observations indicate that the use of these signals of color or odor
depend on the partner animals which consume the fruit.
THE ODOR OF RIPE FRUIT
For example, a study performed in the Amazonian forest showed
that the fruits enjoyed by primates developed, while ripening,
aromas that are characteristically recognized by apes, whereas
fruits which are consumed by birds, which preferentially use their
vision to detect food, do not change their odor but rather employ
variations in color to signal their presence to the animals1.
It thus seems that our attitude towards fruits goes back to the
beginning of the evolution of the human species, thanks to the
ability of our most ancient primate ancestors to detect the signaling
odors of the ripe fruit which were excellent sources of nutrients
essential to survival.
CARDIAC PROTECTION
This importance of fruits for health is well illustrated by the results
of a study performed in China on 512,891 adults between the ages
of 30 and 79, which was published in the prestigious New England
Journal of Medicine2.
Traditionally, the Chinese have always been enthusiastic
consumers of vegetables (over 90% of the population eats them
daily), but at least 20% of them also daily consume fresh fruits. By
analyzing several parameters associated with cardiovascular health,
the scientists observed that those who consumed fruits had a lower
arterial blood pressure (4 mm Hg) and a spectacular decrease in the
risk of premature death due to cardiac problems, which were 40%
lower in those who ate fruit every day.
Overall, the scientists estimate that a lack of fruit is itself
responsible for 16% of the deaths caused by heart diseases in
China and that over half a million deaths could be avoided each
year simply by increasing the consumption of fruits.
PREVENTING BREAST CANCER
Aside from its cardio-protective effect, it should be remembered
that the regular consumption of fruits also has a very positive effect
in reducing the risk of cancer. For example, it was recently shown
that women who regularly consumed fruit (3 portions daily) during
adolescence had about 25% less risk of developing breast cancer
later in their lives, an effect which was particularly pronounced for
those who consumed apples, bananas and grapes3.
To sum up, whether considering their effects in preventing heart
diseases or cancer, fruits are truly first class foods which deserve to
occupy a prime position in our dining habits.
(1)
Nevo O et al. Chemical recognition of fruit ripeness in
spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Scientific Reprts
2015;5:14895.
(2)
Du H et al. Fresh fruit consumption and major
cardiovascular disease in China. N. Engl. J Med.
2016;374:1332-1343.
(3)
Farvid MS et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption in
adolescence and early adulthood and risk of breast
cancer: population based cohort study. BMJ
2016;i2343.
You find the content of this column useful? Make a donation at www.richardbeliveau.org to speed up our research
You find the content of this column useful? Make a donation at www.richardbeliveau.org to speed up our research
You find the content of this column useful? Make a donation at www.richardbeliveau.org to speed up our research
Richard Béliveau