APPLE PEEL EXTRACT

DESCRIPTION:

Although for many people, the fleshy inner section of an apple is the most appealing and arguably tastiest part, the outer skin contains some powerful antioxidants and nutrients that have well-known health benefits.
There is plenty of research available to demonstrate that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables can decrease the risk of chronic disease[i]. 
The main reason for this is that plant-based foods are rich in phytochemicals – natural plant compounds – including polyphenols, flavonoids and carotenoids[ii].

Apples are a particularly abundant source of phytochemicals, are a popular food choice across the world and have been linked to lower incidences of some cancers, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes.

Apples actually contain over 60 different phenolic compounds and the peel itself contains a higher level of polyphenols than the flesh or core[iii]. 
The consumption of apples has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and it has been suggested that this is because of the high levels of polyphenols the fruit contains. 

A study involving mice by Tian et al. (2017) compared the effects of apple peels and apple fleshes on some cardiovascular parameters, including blood pressure, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism. 
It concluded that apple polyphenols, especially those present in apple peel, have important cardioprotective effects[iv].

In future, think twice before throwing your apple peel away because you could also be throwing away an abundant supply of:
Vitamins A, C, & K
Calcium
Potassium
Fibre
Beta-carotene[v]
5 major polyphenol groups (hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavanols, anthocyanins and dihydrochalcones)iii

Let’s delve a little deeper into the health benefits of apple skin.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE PEEL EXTRACT

Because fruit, vegetables, and other plant foods are notoriously high in antioxidants, consuming a diet rich in these foods could help to lower oxidative stress in your body.
Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals are highly reactive because they have an uneven number of electrons, making them imbalanced. 

So, they hunt around the body for a donor to even themselves up.
Antioxidants, on the other hand, are able to donate an electron to a free radical to help balance them without destabilising themselves.

However, if the activity of free radicals and antioxidants is out of kilter, it can lead to oxidative stress. 

If there is an increase in free radicals, it can cause damage to the DNA, proteins, and fatty tissue in your body, resulting in inflammation, and leading to a wide range of chronic diseases, including:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart disease
Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Cancer[vi]

Therefore, foods such as apples and their peel could play a critical role in keeping oxidative stress at bay by promoting good health.

Apple peel and heart disease
There have been several studies conducted assessing the benefits of apples on heart health. 
According to Shehzadi et al. (2020), the anthocyanins and quercetin present in apple peel can have blood pressure-reducing effects[vii]. Another study by Larson et al. (2012) concluded that quercetin in stage 1 hypertensive men was able to reduce blood pressure independent of other factors, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity[viii].

A Finnish study was conducted in 1996, consisting of a cohort of 5133 men and women who were heart disease free and aged between 30 and 69 years old. 
The study analysed the association between dietary flavonoids and coronary mortality. 
The results showed that an increase in flavonoid intake reduced the occurrence of coronary mortality in women but not in men[ix].

Data collected from the same cohort also found that the consumption of apples was linked to a lower risk of thrombotic stroke (the type caused by a blood clot)[x]. 
The compound quercetin, which is associated with many of these heart health benefits, is found almost exclusively in the peel of apples. 
In fact, Eberhardt et al., (2000) concluded that apples with their peel removed had less antioxidant activity than those with their skin intact[xi].

Apple peel and asthma
Asthma is a common lung condition that affects more than 300 million people worldwide[xii]. 
However, there is some research that eating apples is associated with a lower risk of asthmaii. 
A study conducted in 2015 by Shaheen et al. found an association between eating apples and a reduced risk of asthma. 

The study also found a similar association between the condition and red wine consumption, which is also rich in flavonoids[xiii]. 
Therefore, flavonoids could have a protective effect against asthma.

Apple peel and cancer
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and so looking for ways to help prevent it is crucial. 
According to a study conducted by researchers at Cornell University in 2007, apple peel contains some potent compounds that can inhibit or kill cancer cells in the lab[xiv].

The study found that these compounds, called triterpenoids had antiproliferative effects against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. 
Apples have been shown to have the third highest antiproliferative activity compared to 11 other commonly eaten fruits behind cranberries and lemons[xv].

Apple peel and diabetes
Apples are the most consumed fruit in temperate climate countries. 
They contain many different polyphenols, but those found in apple peel extract are believed to have anti-diabetic properties[xvi].

In animal models, apple peel extract has shown potential for use as a therapeutic intervention for managing diabetic peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). 
Another debilitating side effect of diabetes is impaired wound healing. 

Moreover, the same study found that applying a topical hydrocolloid film containing between 5 and 20% apple peel extract to diabetic wounds significantly reduced the surface area of the wound[xvii].

A 2002 Finnish study also found that an increase in quercetin intake (a flavonoid found in apple peel) is associated with a reduction in type 2 diabetes risk[xviii]

Apple peel and the gut microbiome
At Layer Origin Nutrition, we love all things to do with the gut. 
So, it’s probably no surprise to hear that apples – including their peel – can have great effects on your gut microbiome.
In a 2019 study published in Frontiers in Microbiology,researchers found that apples contain 1755 different types of bacteria, equating to a whopping 100 million bacteria living in and around an apple. 

Before you put yourself off of apples for life, it’s important to note that the bacteria found in apples can help to keep your own gut microbiota diverse and healthy[xix]. 
In fact, many of the strains found in apples were probiotics like  Lactobacillus  and members of the  Firmicutes genera,so help to support gut health.

As well as containing a huge amount of health-promoting bacteria, apples are also packed with both soluble and insoluble fibre. 
Apples contain a type of soluble fibre called pectin which can be used as an energy source by your gut microbes. 

The bacteria in your gut break down the pectin found in apples (and other sources) and transform it into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, all of which have been shown to have numerous health benefits[xx].

That’s not all. 
The insoluble fibre found in apples is also great for your digestive system. 
That’s because it helps to keep things moving through your gastrointestinal tract by providing bulk, drawing water to your stools to make them easier to pass, and helping food to move through the tract quickly[xxi].

Top Tip:try to avoid apples (and other insoluble fibre sources) immediately before exercise, such as a run, as this can cause stomach cramps and affect your performance.

What is apple peel powder?
When it comes to apple peel powder, the clue really is in the name. 
It’s just a powdered form of apple peel – the outer skin of one of the world’s most popular fruits[xxii].
Hidden inside the skin of an apple is an array of natural chemicals called phytonutrients, including vitamins and antioxidants that can have some exceptional health benefits. 

In fact, eating an apple with the peel on contains 50% more phytonutrients than a peeled apple!
However, if you’re the type of person who just can’t stand eating the edible skin of some fruit and veg, then Layer Origin has the perfect solution for you – our Organic Apple Peel Powder. 

Our pure, organic formulation is the perfect way to ensure you’re getting all of the benefits of eating the skin of your apple. 
Plus, even if you don’t mind munching the entire fruit, our Apple Peel Powder is a great way to keep your health in tip-top condition.

SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT APPLE PEEL EXTRACT
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician. 
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
 
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air. 
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. 
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
 
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
 
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting. 
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. 
Rinse mouth with water. 
Consult a physician.
 
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
 
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment. 
 
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas. 
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
 
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
 
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste. 
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
 
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
 
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. 
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
 
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
 
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles. 
Faceshield (8-inch minimum). 
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
 
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves. 
Gloves must be inspected prior to use. 
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. 
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. 
Wash and dry hands.
 
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
 
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls. 
 
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator. 
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. 
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
 
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions. 
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
 
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. 
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product.