An apple a day keeps the doctor away, or at least that’s what the well-known proverb tells us.
However, Whanganui orchardist Mark Christensen might take the adage a step further: an apple a day keeps cancer at bay.
“We feel that the Monty’s Surprise apple has the right combination of compounds to help inhibit disease in the human body and help prevent people from getting cancer,” he said.
It’s a massive claim, but one he believes is backed by science.
Researchers in Australia and France found the fruit had extremely high levels of anti-cancer compounds, and a recent human trial at Massey University concluded it impeded the growth of lung and breast cancer cells.
“We believe this apple can stop those hereditary cancer cells activating.”
Christensen gives these apples away for free and founded the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust to help fund exploration of the extra health benefits.
“Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food,” he said.
To find out more about the Monty’s Surprise apples, watch the video above.
