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An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away

For centuries, eating a raw apple was seen as a reason to call FOR a doctor. People throughout Europe and North America were suspicious of apples and raw fruit in general. In medieval Europe, apples were banned for children and wet nurses. An upset stomach or flu nearly always resulted in fingers pointing at the poor, humble apple. It didn’t help that many believed the apple the cause of Eve’s downfall in the Garden of Eden. At the same time, apples found a welcome home in the medicine cabinet, prescribed for all manner of aches and pains. It’s funny that an apple could both cause disease and cure it.

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 Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? A nutritionist explains the science behind ‘functional’ foods

We’ve all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but how true is that? Apples are not high in vitamin A, nor are they beneficial for vision like carrots. They are not a great source of vitamin C and therefore don’t fight off colds as oranges do. However, apples contain various bioactive substances – natural chemicals that occur in small amounts in foods and that have biological effects in the body. These chemicals are not classified as nutrients like vitamins. Because apples contain many health-promoting bioactive substances, the fruit is considered a “functional” food.

Articles of Interest

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away — Fact or Fiction?

Although eating more apples may not literally be associated with fewer visits to the doctor, apples are rich in nutrients and offer several benefits for disease prevention and long-term health. In addition to apples, many other fruits and vegetables provide a similar set of nutrients and health benefits.

An apple a day keeps the heart doctor away

The 150-year-old proverb 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' stands the test of time, say Oxford University researchers.

An apple a day may not keep the doctor away, but it’s a healthy choice anyway

I don’t know about you, but I am a longstanding believer in an apple a day. There’s always a big wire basket of Galas or Fujis in my kitchen, and I break my fast with an apple over morning email. The enjoyment of apples in my home even crosses the species barrier, as our Giant Schnauzer maws down his twice-daily thyroid pill in meaty quarters of apple. But, are there true apple health benefits? Or, is this just an old adage.

An apple a day really can help keep the doctor away. Here's how.

A version of the famous proverb "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" first appeared in the United States in 1866 in a New Hampshire-based magazine called Notes and Queries. Though older iterations of it might exist in other parts of the world, few repeaters of the proverb in century's past likely understood the full extent of just how beneficial to health apples really are. But apples aren't necessarily unique among other fruits in all of the health benefits they have to offer. It turns out eating most any fruit or vegetable - along with other healthy foods, as part of a well-balanced diet - can similarly help to keep certain medical issues at bay.

Association Between Apple Consumption and Physician Visits

Evidence does not support that an apple a day keeps the doctor away; however, the small fraction of US adults who eat an apple a day do appear to use fewer prescription medications.

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

Apples are a decent source of fibre, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids (which may help to prevent cancer). But are they any better than fruit in general, and does daily consumption have a measurable health benefit? Per 100g, apples have more fibre than melons, mangoes or grapes, and twice as much vitamin A as pears. But apples have less folate than blueberries and less vitamin C than oranges or bananas.

Does An Apple A Day Really Keep The Doctor Away? A Nutritionist Explains The Science Behind ‘Functional’ Foods

While apples aren’t considered a superfood, they are considered a functional food.

Myth-busting: Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

It seems a little too good to be true, so let’s look into it.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”: The potentials of apple bioactive constituents for chronic disease prevention

The consumption of apple (Malus domestica Borkh. Family: Rosaceae), which is one of the most grown fruits globally, has been encouraged since time immemorial due to the sheer abundance of nutrients and bioactive compounds present therein.