Nutrition: Stone fruit may fight obesity-related disease

New research from Texas AgriLife Research has found that stone fruit ‘peaches, plums and nectarines’may be able to combat obesity-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

According to the study, stone fruits have bioactive compounds that can potentially fight metabolic syndrome’caused by obesity and insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome can lead to a number of health issues including diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

“Our work indicates that phenolic compounds present in these fruits have anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties in different cell lines and may also reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol LDL which is associated to cardiovascular disease," says Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, an AgriLife Research food scientist and associate professor at Texas A&M University. While the phenolic compounds in stone fruits work in different cells, they are all simulateously fighting the components of metabolic syndrome. This is thought to be the first time that "bioactive compounds of a fruit have been shown to potentially work in different fronts against a disease,” says Cisneros-Zevallos.

Looking for a way to incorporate more of this healthy fruit into your diet? Try these 10 delicious ways to cook with stone fruit.

Related:
‘ 5 healthy reasons to eat stone fruit
‘ Our best healthy peach recipes
‘ 5 reasons to eat more cherries