An Apple A Day May Keep THIS Away (And It's NOT The Doctor!)

When you were little, your mom probably told you that eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away, as a trick to get you to eat more fruit.

But surprising new research shows that it may actually keep the pharmacist away, as well.

According to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers from Dartmouth Medical School found that people who eat at least one apple a day actually refill fewer pain prescriptions.

The researchers studied more than 8,300 individuals over the course of three years. Of that group, only about 9 per cent regularly ate an apple a day—but it really paid off for them.

Although the apple-eaters and non-apple-eaters visited the doctor roughly the same amount of times a year, those who ate apples daily filled fewer medicine prescriptions overall, according to the study.

"Our findings suggest that the promotion of apple consumption may have limited benefit in reducing national health care spending.... The age of evidence-based assertions, however, there may be merit to saying 'An apple a day keeps the pharmacist away,'" the authors wrote.

Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that the participants in the study were all highly educated and mostly did not smoke, so their visits to the doctor could have been more for preventative reasons than to treat actual illnesses.

However, apples contain so much fiber, antioxidants, and other essential vitamins and minerals, that there’s really no reason not to eat an apple a day.  

In fact, the breakthrough study suggests that apples can dramatically improve a person’s natural strength to fight an illness—without prescription pain medication.

Previous studies have linked apple eating to the reduction of heart problems, asthma, tooth decay, and mental health issues.

So, at the end of the day, eating an apple a day actually doesn’t keep the doctor away, as the old saying goes. But it really can help keep the pharmacist away!

What do you think of this study's findings? Tell us in the comments!

Photo Copyright © 2007 liz west/Flickr