Besides warding off medical professionals, anyway.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Speaking as someone with a family member in a medical profession, I can confirm this isn’t true. I ate an apple right in front of him once, and he was still there after I finished it. My whole world view has been turned on its head.
Joking aside, they say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” because apples are actually quite good at shoring up your body’s natural defenses. Oranges usually get the crown for being the king of vitamin C, but a single apple can get you at least 14% of your daily recommended intake of the stuff. Certain varieties of apple, like Calville Blancs or Baldwins, pack a mighty 40 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams. Additionally, all apple varieties are rich in quercetin, a natural antioxidant. Studies show that an increased intake of quercetin helps stave off inflammation in your body, which in turn lessens oxidative damage.
Apples are also quite high in fiber, which make them a treat for your gut. Apples contain pectin, which in turn creates butyrate, a favorite snack of your body’s natural gut flora. Healthier gut flora means a healthier microbiome, which makes you harder to infect with certain viruses. Since apples are so hearty, they’re also great weight loss aids. The fibrous nature of an apple makes it a much more satiating food, so after you eat one, you won’t want to eat much else (which I can personally attest to).
So while eating an apple won’t cause doctors to spontaneously disappear from your immediate presence, regular consumption of them yields all sorts of benefits. You should try eating at least one a day for some great health boosts. Hey, that saying makes more sense now…
