An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Is it true?

You might have wondered sometimes as to why do they say:

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

This is an old English proverb. Its origin dates back to 1913 when it was coined. This was based on an old Pembrokeshire proverb of 1866 that stated that consuming nutritious foods like apples wards off illnesses and keeps you healthy. Therefore, doctor visits reduce. 

How effective is this proverb in the modern age?

The answer is not simple. Because times have changed. But we do know that fruits and vegetables are healthy for the body. They contain a lot of nutrients that assist and promote optimal health. They have phytonutrients that reduce inflammation, help bowel movements, decrease blood pressure, minimize blood sugar rise, lower blood cholesterol, control weight, reduce risk of chronic diseases and cancer, and give a feeling of well -being. They are rich in healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, phytonutrients, and some like avocados have good fats in them as well. 

Apples are similarly healthy for the body. They have a good balance of nutrients. They have adequate calories, carbs, minerals, vitamins, water content, phytonutrients such as antioxidants, and fiber. 

Studies showed that eating apples lead to lesser doctor visits and fewer medicines. But compared to those who did not eat apples, the difference was not statistically significant. Also, eating more than one apple a day did not help. 

The lesser goodness of apples in studies might have been due to several other factors that affect the results. These include: age, gender, race, genes, health, variety of apple eaten, and also health of the apple itself. By this, I mean whether the apple was not spoilt, and whether it was not injected with chemicals either in form of fertilizers, pesticides , or ripening agents. Moreover, nowadays, genetically modified apples are available and their effects on health remain unstudied to date. Example, Arctic apples that can overcome browning after slicing or bruising. 

Read here: Water content of fruits. How much?

So one cannot be sure whether eating apples can always keep away the doctor. But yes, eating them as part of fruits and vegetables servings of the day are good.