power fruitsA new University of Iowa study showed apples, or more precisely a waxy substance called ursolic acid that’s found in apple peel, made mice gain less weight. According to lead researcher Christopher Adams, MD, “Ursolic acid ups muscle and brown fat, which boosts calorie burning.”

The UI study, published in the June 8 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, showed that ursolic acid reduced muscle atrophy (also known as muscle wasting) and promoted muscle growth in mice. It also reduced fat, blood sugar levels, cholesterol and triglycerides in the animals. The findings suggest that the compound may be useful for treating muscle wasting and possibly metabolic disorders such as diabetes.  Read more on the study here

Eat these four power fruits:

Apples – Helps you burn fat, in particular the content of the peels.

Blueberries: This superfruit may reduce belly fat by affecting fat-burning and storage genes, says a recent study.

Pears: They’re high in flavonoids and catechins, antioxidants that help women ward off weight gain.

Bergamot oranges: Studies show that compounds in the fruit may decrease cholesterol and help with weight loss.