We all have heard the famous quote ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ but what does it mean? And is there any logic behind it?
This phrase dates all the way back to 1913 when it was first used, but what most people do not know is that this familiar expression was based on another quote which originated in 1866 that said ‘Eat an apple before going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.’
Before you start stuffing yourself with apples to avoid visiting your doctor, we must tell you that studies have shown that eating more apples is not associated with less visits to the doctor’s but it can indeed significantly improve certain aspects of your health.
Let’s try to take a look and find out whether the person who said ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ was right or not.
Health benefits of apples
Apples are known to be extremely nutritious and provide many benefits that promote long-term health.
Its nutritional value includes 95 calories, 4.5g fiber, 9% Vitamin C and much more per every medium sized apple. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and helps the body fight against diseases. This is the reason why apples are thought of as a great source of antioxidants.
According to a research, consuming more apples can also be associated with lower risk of heart and other chronic diseases. Apples consist of flavonoids, which help reduce inflammation and promote better heart health. High fiber content in apples also helps the heart by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The antioxidants and flavonoids are present in large quantity in apples, which are also essential in preventing cancer formation. Studies have shown that higher consumption of apples reduces the risk of developing cancers such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer. However, further research is needed to ensure that it didn’t result from other factors not accounted for. One thing can be confirmed that eating more apples definitely resists in cancer development.
Additionally, if all of the above reasons weren’t enough for you to understand the health benefits of apples, eating them can also improve bone health, promote brain function, reduce the risk of diabetes and also help your body lose weight more easily.
How many apples should you have?
You’re probably wondering right now that apples are the best thing ever and the ultimate health boosting fruit that you should eat a ton of every day. Unfortunately, like most other things, too much of anything will always show some side effects, which in certain cases can be extremely harmful.
Since apples have a lot of fiber content in them, too many apples in a day can cause the fiber to build up causing gas, stomach pain and bloating. Apples also have a handsome amount of carbohydrates in them, so if you are looking to cut on your carbs, don’t eat too many apples per day.
What other alternatives can you try?
Apples are extremely healthy for your diet and contain a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that keeps your body fresh.
Like apples, a lot of other fruits and vegetables offer the same amount of nutrients and health benefits for your body.
Some alternatives to apples are bananas, mangoes, peaches and pineapples all of which are good for your body.
The Takeaway
Even though eating more apples isn’t directly equated to fewer visits to the doctor as the famous expression suggests, apples are still extremely beneficial for your body as they protect you from harmful diseases.
To conclude, the quote is not supposed to be taken literally rather as a message to eat more apples because they are extremely good for your body. We recommend you try even more fruits and vegetables rather than just apples to keep a nutritious and well-rounded diet, but also visit the doctor when you feel the need for it.