An Apple A Day May Not Keep The Doctor, Or Pharmacist, Away

The old adage that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” may be a stretch, but a new study suggests apples can reduce the need for prescription medication.

The study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no significant difference between the 753 respondents who said they ate at least one small apple per day with the 7,646 respondents who said they didn’t eat apples. The data, taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2008 and 2009-2010), did show that apple eaters had slightly higher odds of avoiding prescription medications.

“One food will never change our health,” Erin Kean, Outpatient Dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital, said. “It has to do with our overall lifestyle… Therefore, we can’t conclude that apples are specifically the one variable in our lives that can prevent the need for medications.”

Nina Eng, Chief Clinical Dietitian at Plainview Hospital, said the study doesn’t represent the long-term dietary habits of an individual.

“The nutrients supplied in one apple do not determine the health of an individual,” she said. “Dietitians encourage individuals to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to get a variety of nutrients on a daily basis, which is more likely to keep them healthy.”

Apples help to support our immune system with Vitamin C, decrease our lousy (LDL) cholesterol and provide anti-cancer compounds. They also decrease cavity-causing bacteria in our mouths by stimulating saliva flow, which Keane says is why apples are known as “nature’s toothbrush.”

While apples alone may not keep you out of the doctor’s office, they remain an important part of a healthy diet.

“In general, the sweet treat of an apple should be used in place of a dessert,” Keane said. “We should use it during the day as part of a healthy snack. You can use it with nuts or low-fat cheese and that really, I think, helps to contribute to health.”