Put your apples down, folks. A new study has shown that the old saying (you know what it is) is complete bunk. Well, sort of.
It took a scientific study to disprove the old adage – “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” – oft-repeated by moms everywhere. But it turns out, you need more than just apples to secure good health, the Associated Press reported.
The study – conducted by the University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor – had its flaws and its results weren’t statistically significant. However, of the 8,400 adults who participated in a government health survey from 2007 to 2010, 9 percent said they ate one small apple every day. These same people were also asked how often they went to the doctor.
The revolutionary result was that apple-eaters still go to the doctor, almost as much as people who consume apples only in juice, pie or sauce form, or no apples at all. When researchers considered the apple-eaters’ weight, race, education and health insurance, this disparity disappeared.
The light-hearted study didn’t consider some serious factors during its survey – it didn’t ask for people’s dietary habits, didn’t delve into any specifics about their health, or why they went to the doctor. But in an interesting twist, researchers found that apple-eaters didn’t take many prescription drugs, particularly those who ate small or medium-sized apples.
The New York Daily News did some interesting math to further this point: Americans eat 8.8 million pounds of apples. If someone could convince people who don’t like apples to munch on a Granny Smith or Red Delicious, the country could save $19.2 billion in prescription medication costs.
Even though our world has been shattered with the debunking of this old cliché, don’t chuck your apples just yet, one doctor, Dr. Michael Roizen, tells the Daily News.
“Apples are an excellent source of fiber and are low in calories, which means they will satisfy your hunger and keep you fuller for a longer period of time. The best way to get the nutritional benefits of apples is by consuming one medium-sized apple per day.”
They’re also pretty good at reducing cancer risk, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and bone health.
Looks like we’re going to need another apple proverb.
[Photo Courtesy Jeff T. Green/Getty Images]
‘Apple-A-Day’ Study Bombshell: Apple Eaters Still Go To The Doctor is an article from: The Inquisitr News
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