The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a very well known proverb. But does an apple a day actually keep the doctor away? The proverb can be traced back to Wales in the 1860s. In the 1860s doctors still believed that bloodletting was a good idea, so any medical advice from that era should be taken with a grain of salt.
I began my research on the apple a day theory by googling “does an apple a day actually keep the doctor away” and was immediately met with several articles from reputable (and some questionable) sources. But instead of reading their pre-compiled rap sheet, I decided instead to read up on the health benefits of apples. What I found has been impressive.
Apples contain many awesome things health wise! They contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals, as well as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and dietary fiber. One apple contains 10% your daily value of Vitamin C, which is great, because vitamin C helps the body fight against colds, helps maintain good oral health, serves as an antioxidant, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
There is no dispute that apples are an awesome healthy food choice, but can eating one apple a day actually reduce the necessity of doctors visits? I searched the internet again for statistical studies to see if anyone had analyzed apple eating habits to see if it reduced the number of doctors visits. The first study I found showed that eating an apple a day did not reduce the number of doctors visits, but did slightly indicate lower need for prescription medication. Unfortunately for the apple a day theory, the other study I found again confirmed that there was no statistical significance to suggest that eating an apple a day actually reduced the number of doctors visits a year.
Yet again nineteenth century medical advice has failed. But given the results of my findings, I’d still recommend that people eat apples occasionally (maybe even daily), because they do have many positive nutritional and cognitive benefits.
Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_apple_a_day_keeps_the_doctor_away
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2210883
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25822137
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1809/2
Very interesting topic. You made a lot of good points and Iike how you made references to blood letting, which we talked about in class a while back.It would be great if apples could just make you instantly healthy, but it’s interesting to see exactly how nutritional they are – I ever know they had omega fatty acids.
A classic topic and I enjoyed the read, however have you considered looking not at short term doctors visits, but long term diagnosis? Yes an apple a day probably won’t keep the doctor away forever, but illness is inevitable at some point and your body requires healthy intake regardless and an apple is a great source to do so. Here: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples/ , is a list that states potential life-threatening illnesses and diseases that apples help reduce the risk of. For instance I have at least one apple a day on a consistent basis yet I have been since for nearly a month… Could I just have a weak immune system currently and the apples have no contribution, or am I setting my self up for a healthier life in the long run?
I think apples are very healthy for you but they certainly aren’t a “cure all” for health problems so just eating an apple a day won’t keep the doctor away if you aren’t exhibiting other healthy choices. A person needs other things to keep them healthy and away from the doctors office.
An apple a day certainly does not keep the doctor away, but eating healthy will provide a healthy body and therefor healthy teeth. Apples actually clean and whiten your teeth. cummingsfamilydentist.com/dentistry-wellness/can-apples-clean-teeth/ . So I guess an apple a day keep your teeth okay, but you should still practice general hygiene.
Interesting topic. I’ve always heard the same saying from my mom. I like how you decided to check out the nutrients coming from an apple and explaining what in it you’ll benefit from. Also I like how you took what we have learned in class and applied it to an outside article. Check out this article that also explains what each nutrient is doing to help out your body…http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/health-myths/an-apple-a-day.htm