Apples help keep medications away, not doctors. The old refrain about an apple a day may have to be changed as a result of new research that found that the fruit do seem to minimize the need for medications. “The researchers set out to tackle a light-hearted question: is a proverb about apples that dates back to at least the 1800s really true? To find the answer, they compared apple eaters to abstainers, using data from 8,399 U.S. adults who completed questionnaires between 2007 and 2010 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Just 753 participants, or 9 percent, ate at least one small apple day. Apple eaters in the study had higher educational attainment, were more likely to be from a racial or ethnic minority, and were less likely to smoke. And at first blush, apple eaters seemed more likely to keep the doctor away, with fewer self-reported visits to health care providers. But the difference wasn’t statistically significant after adjusting for socioeconomic factors and other health characteristics. The apple eaters did appear to be significantly more likely to avoid prescription medications.” The researchers point out that the finding is just an association and that more apple eating is probably just an indicator of a healthier lifestyle. Those who eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains have been found to have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

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