‘An Apple A Day’ Keeps The Pharmacist Away? Study Says No

You know the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Actually, it’s not the doctor you’ll skip, but possibly the pharmacist, researchers found.

The Associated Press noted that the study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, found that those who ate one apple everyday actually had just as many of doctors’ visits as those who did not.

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Scientists at the University of Michigan surveyed over 8,000 U.S. adults from 2007-2010 and gave them questionnaires on their eating habits and medical treatment they received annually.

Approximately 9 percent of the participants ate the equivalent of one apple a day. While they were less likely to smoke and use prescription drugs, they had the same amount of doctors’ visits as the others. However, the reasons for the trips to doctor were not disclosed.

Apples are an excellent source of vitamins, but if they are not part of a complete healthy diet than one a day probably won’t do anything special.

USA Today noted that Apple advocates are not taking this information lying down though.

“While we appreciate the University of Michigan (a top apple-growing state, by the way) took the time to put the ‘apple a day’ adage to the test, it’s foolish to even imply you shouldn’t enjoy a daily apple for your health when centuries of advice and stacks of current research would imply otherwise,” said Wendy Brannen, director of public relations for the U.S. Apple Association.

Agencies/Canadajournal