Eating an apple a day will keep the doctor away

As with many old wives' tales it seems there is more than a grain of truth in the old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". All you have to do is make sure that the apple is included as one of the five portions of fruit and vegetables you eat each day. 'Five-a-day' - a new health campaign introduced by the Department of Health - aims to encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetables. Increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of many chronic conditions such as heart disease and some cancers including bowel cancer. Other health benefits attributed to eating 'five-a-day' are reducing the symptoms of asthma, improving bowel functions and delaying the development of cataracts. As well as direct health benefits, eating fruit and vegetables can help achieve other dietary goals including vitamin and fibre intake, reducing fat intake and helping to maintain a healthy weight. Fruit and vegetables are also a perfect substitute for foods with added sugars which contribute to health issues such as tooth decay - so you can keep the doctor and the dentist away! Most people are aware of the 'five a day' concept, but despite the nutritional importance of eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, many of us still take too relaxed an approach to achieving it. A surprising amount of foods qualify to help you achieve this daily goal - both raw and cooked. To gain the most benefit from your 'five-a-day' quota make sure you eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables, their different colours provide a variety of phytochemicals and anti-oxidants which may help reduce the threat of heart disease, stroke and cancers. source : http://www.bupa.co.uk/about/html/pr/050603_wives_tales.html

I think this is true. When I was pregnant in 2008, I see to it that I have apples and other fruits. I had not experienced even simple colds and flu during my entire pregnancy and I really owe this to the apple, =). My baby is so healthy and his skin is fine and fair which I can say is also contributed by the fruit fibers. It really helped.

there is old saying,But I don't know how true is it ? sigh.

I don't think it hurts you to eat an apple a day, but it does not keep the doctor away. I was told this as a kid as I think many parents do to get their kids to eat healthy snacks. I eat an occasional apple when I buy them from the store but I don't eat them everyday.