We have all heard the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but is that just a fun saying or is there some truth behind it? The phrase first appeared in Wales in the 1860s with the wording, “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” The wording was later changed to the phrase we know today in the early 19th century as a verbal saying before written records first documented it in 1887. This popular saying has roots in a Welsh tradition of eating an apple stuffed with caraway seeds before bed. As caraway was considered very healthy, an apple provided an easy vehicle to up one’s consumption. As it turns out, they might have been onto something: caraway has been used as an aid for digestive aids for many years, with records of its use dating as far back as 1550 BC in Egypt.[1]

However, the saying is not “caraway every day keeps the doctor away”; the focus is on the apple. So what exactly are the health benefits of apples? One study “concluded that natural compounds in apples, especially Granny Smith, promote the growth of good digestive bacteria linked to weight control. Fascinating research, but apples also aid weight control due to their rich fiber content. A medium apple packs 5 grams of fiber, 20% of the minimum daily target.” Additionally, preliminary studies in animals “have found that a natural substance in apple peels called ursolic acid helped mice gain muscle mass. In one study, scientists gave ursolic acid to one group of junk-food-fed mice, but not another. The supplemented rodents gained muscle, put on less fat than their unsupplemented counterparts, and their blood sugar level remained close to normal. While simply eating whole apples may not have the same effect, the research is intriguing, and apples have numerous additional benefits make them a worthy fitness food.”

Is an apple a day really enough to keep the doctor away? Well...no, not on their own. However, apples are still a healthy food worth incorporating into your diet (but be sure to leave the skin on). So grab and apple (perhaps prepared with caraway?) and chow down!

*Bodē Pro recommends consulting with your physician or healthcare provider prior starting any new exercise or diet plan.

[1]  Wong, Cathy. “Can Caraway Improve Digestion and Lower Cholesterol?” Verywell Fit, 20 Jan. 2019, www.verywellfit.com/the-benefits-of-caraway-89429.