The popular saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” may not be as true as some are led to believe.
According to Alice Litchtenstein, Professor of Nutrition Science at Tufts University, “Dating all the way back to Wales in the 1800s, apples were one of the few fruits that were available throughout the year.”
Apples have a long shelf life and are sold year-round, so it makes it easy for consumers to eat at least one apple a day. However, new research proves that people who eat multiple apples a day have to make just as many doctor visits as the people that eat fewer to no apples per day.
There were many factors involved in the study, including weight, race, education and health insurance.
The study consisted of around 8,400 adults who participated in health surveys throughout 2007 to 2010.
Less than 10 percent of the 8,400 surveyed claimed to eat at least one apple a day. The surveyors called the participants that consumed less than one apple a day “apple shunners.”
The survey also concluded that the participants that ate more apples had higher education and smoked less. The “apple eaters” were also a little less likely to abuse prescription drugs.
The purpose of the study is not to prove that apples are bad for you, because it is no secret that apples are a healthy food. Apples are filled with vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and just one apple can give your body about 20 percent of its daily fiber intake.
It is true that many don’t like going to the doctor but an apple is definitely not a replacement for a visit.
