Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? This Victorian era proverb has been said for years and there may actually be truth to it. According to an article on NPR this habit can improve cardiovascular health.
According to calculations by the University of Oxford, mentioned in the article, for people over the age of 50 eating an apple a day would have a similar effect to that of statins, drugs which are used to lower cholesterol. By their calculations, if they put 70% of people over the age of 50 on an apple a day regiment it would save about 8,500 lives. While apples are more expensive than statins and are not covered by medical insurance they also come without the risk of side effects unlike statins. However, before starting the apple a day regimen there are some things to consider.
While this article sounds good in theory it may not prove to actually be as good as it seems. This article is based on calculations, not a study or experiment, so the only thing to back this up is the numbers which may or may not be real considering there is no evidence to go along with them. A better version of this is a healthy diet will keep the doctor away, defined by Health Guide as mostly vegetables and fruits (see graph below). An apple a day is a healthy way to live your life, however it may not necessarily keep the doctor away.
Works Cited
“Healthy Eating.” : Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet & Sticking to It. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
Shute, Nancy. “An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away, And Statins Do, Too.” NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
I have always wondered how factual the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” was so I love this post. It’s awesome that it improves cardiovascular health, but you’re right, a healthy diet which consists of multiple fruits and vegetables would definitely be a better way to keep the doctor away.
That’s awesome to see that eating apples can improve cardiovascular health. It’s a better alternative to stay health rather than consuming medicine. Like you said, other parts of a diet should be considered. Obviously you cannot depend on just eating an able a day to maintain your health. People need to remember that just because you eat an apple, doesn’t mean you can go binge on other unhealthy foods. That would defeat the purpose. Like you said, all fruits and vegetables should be consumed so you can stay healthy.