An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
If you’re like most people, you’ve heard that proverbial advice ever since you were little, usually from your parents or your teachers. It’s a statement that reinforces the importance of health care, implying that as long as you eat one apple a day, your health will be in tiptop shape. By consuming a single apple per day, you’ll find yourself away from the four walls of a hospital and the intimidating presence of a doctor.
But how accurate is the statement, really? Is it just a ruse of adults to get kids to eat fruits? Or does it have some truth in it? In this article, we’ll explore whether or not you can really stay healthy just by eating apples regularly.
Where did the statement come from?
The statement is believed to originate from a 19th-century magazine published in Wales. “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread,” it read. Over the years, it eventually evolved to “an apple a day, no doctor pay” and then to “an apple a day sends the doctor away.” It wasn’t until 1922 that it shifted to the famous saying we know today as “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Is eating an apple a day advisable?
According to a US study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, eating an apple a day does not make you immune to doctor visits. But if your everyday diet consists of fruits and vegetables, including apples, you’ll have better health in general and decrease your chances of incurring a chronic disease. And when you’re healthy, you will not need to take that many trips to the hospital — unless for regular checkups, of course.
How many apples is too much?
A medium (150) apple can count towards your daily fruit and vegetable quota, but there’s no evidence that suggests that eating too many apples can have adverse side effects. If anything, you might experience damage in your tooth enamel since apples are naturally acidic. And if you eat too many of them, it may contribute to weight gain as it can deliver excess calories.
Still, when you consume apples, you’re also packing on fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your body needs to stay healthy.
Benefits of eating apples
Now that you know that there is technically no such thing as too many apples, listed below are the benefits of eating them.
You feel fuller – Want to cut down a few pounds? Apples are a filling, naturally sweet snack that can make you feel full, making you less susceptible to munching on other snacks.
Improved gut health – Apples are a good source of fiber. They have prebiotic fiber pectin, which feeds your body’s gut flora and, in turn, regulates your digestive health.
Reduced chances of getting cancer: Multiple studies link regular apple consumption to reduced risk for cancer, especially lung cancer.
So there you have it. While an apple a day does not necessarily keep the doctor away, consuming it on the regular can help you be healthier. We are an urgent care center in New Jersey, get in touch with us today! We’re happy to help.
