An apple a day really does keep the doctor away, new scientific research indicates.

Apples as well as apple juice are loaded with the healthy components that may be just what the doctor ordered to provide balance to the not-so-healthy diets some individuals — particularly children — are eating, according to researchers at the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis). That's because apple juice and fresh apple components contain significant amounts of phytonutrients that are thought to play a critical role in supporting and promoting good health, the researchers explained.

Researchers first identified numerous phytonutrients in apple juice and fresh apple components, many of which are known to have positive effects on disease processes. After this step, they determined these foods also could stop oxidation of the "bad" cholesterol (LDL), a process that can lead to the development of heart disease.

Other studies done in the past two years outside the United States also showed apple phytonutrients were correlated with reduced risk of heart disease and lung cancer.

"Apples, apple juice and apple products have always played a role in a healthy diet. For decades, if not hundreds of years, we've been told to eat apples to maintain our health," said Sue Taylor, R.D., director of nutrition communications for the Processed Apples Institute. "Now, science is uncovering that the healthy components are not just in apples, but in apple juice as well."

The UC-Davis study, led by Dr. Eric Gershwin, is believed to be the first U.S. research to show apple juice contains many of the newly identified phytonutrients praised as important for good health.

"Consumers have been hearing an awful lot about phytonutrients recently. And they're hearing it for good reason, because many of these plant compounds are thought to possess disease preventative properties," said Gershwin. "What our research demonstrates is that you can add apple juice onto the list of fruits and vegetables which are good for you, because they clearly contain a significant amount of these important plant components."