A 2015 study found that daily apple eaters didn\u2019t visit doctors lessApples provide fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants that support heart and gut health.An apple a day can fit a healthy diet\u2014just wash it first and keep variety in the mix.<\/p>\n
Apples are one of the most popular fruits, and there are endless ways to enjoy them: slice them into a fruit salad, dip them in peanut butter, bake them into a sweet apple pie<\/a>, or enjoy them on their own.<\/p>\n The data backs up the obsession. In 2021, Americans ate 15.8 pounds of fresh apples per person, according to the USDA Economic Research Service<\/a>. And when you add canned, frozen, dried, and juice varieties into the mix, apples were the most popular<\/a> with 26 pounds per capita. With all this apple eating, you’ve probably heard the saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But is it actually true?<\/p>\n The phrase originates from 19th-century Wales. Caroline Taggart, author of An Apple A Day: Old-Fashioned Proverbs\u2013Timeless Words To Live By<\/a>, told The Washington Post<\/a> it evolved from the original: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you\u2019ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.\u201d<\/p>\n A 2015 study<\/a> aimed to determine whether it was true, examining whether individuals who ate apples daily visited their physician less often. The conclusion didn’t provide enough evidence to say apples reduce doctor visits. However, adults who ate an apple daily tended to use fewer prescription medications, hinting at a potentially limited health benefit.<\/p>\n To learn more about the upsides (and even some side effects) of eating an apple a day, we asked dietitian Lauren Manaker<\/a>, RDN. <\/p>\n What Are The Health Benefits Of Apples?<\/p>\n “Apples offer a range of health benefits, including supporting heart health, supporting immune function, and reducing inflammation,” Manaker says. She credits vitamin C for immune support and flavonoids (a type of antioxidant) linked to a lower risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n While the nutrients from different apple types<\/a> can vary, a medium Golden Delicious<\/a> (approximately 169 grams) is mostly water, comprising 145 grams. It contains about 96 calories, about 23 grams of carbs (17 grams of sugar), and about 4 grams of fiber.<\/p>\n