Health experts say the adage &#8217;An apple a day keeps the doctor away&#8217; could be true. &#8217;I like to tell patients to color their plates,&#8217;
Health experts say the adage 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away' could be true. 'I like to tell patients to color their plates,' said Dr. Wanda Filer of Family First Health in York. 'An apple is going to be in that selection group.' (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL)

With apples abounding in autumn, we know you've been wondering: Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

If so, the adage could be the answer to rising health care costs. Just kidding.

However, experts say you could benefit from eating more of the fruit.

Dr. Wanda Filer of Family First Health in York said apples might not be the golden ticket to good health, but people benefit from diets that are higher in fruits and vegetables.

"I like to tell patients to color their plates," she said. "An apple is going to be in that selection group."

Filer said color represents antioxidants, which can reduce risk for some cancers and heart disease. Fruits and vegetables also are low in fat and high in fiber.

She said diet is a huge factor in chronic disease, which accounts for 70 percent of deaths in the U.S. Poor nutrition and a lack of physical activity contribute to those deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Filer recommends that people eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

"An apple is a good start," she said. "We have to start somewhere."

Jodie Orwig, chief clinical dietitian at Gettysburg Hospital, agreed with Filer. She said all fruits and vegetables help people stay healthy because they contain phytochemicals and phytonutrients.

And, she said, properties of an apple might provide an added punch.

For example, apples have vitamin C, which helps build up the immune system and heal skin. Their juice might prevent tooth decay by killing bacteria. The fruit might help stop neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, and it has pectin, a fiber that reduces bad cholesterol.

"Heck, it's hard not to eat an apple a day if it can stop a lot of these things from happening," Orwig said.

Plus, apples are low in calories -- 70 to 100 per piece of fruit.

"When somebody is having a craving for something sweet, instead of eating candy, they can select an apple," Orwig said.

She touted York and Adams counties as prime locations for apple growing and said residents' access to quality fruit is an advantage.

But ultimately, health professionals want people to eat more fruits and vegetables in general.

Orwig said people want healthy choices that are simple and fast. What's easier than washing an apple and taking a bite?

"We always like to say, 'If people don't have time for healthy eating, sooner or later, they're going to have to find the time for illness.'"
717-771-2101; @leighzaleski

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'Starts With Apples'

October marks National Apple Month and National Health Literacy Month. To celebrate, Family First Health has launched the campaign "Starts With Apples."

The campaign aims to show people that good health can start with an apple a day, but ultimately, people also need to be active in their health care.

FFH handed out apples and information in York, Hanover and Gettysburg throughout the month.

For details, visit

Apple facts

--- Pennsylvania is the fourth largest apple producer in the U.S., growing 440 million pounds of apples each year.

--- The top apple-producing counties are Adams, Franklin, Bedford, Berks, York, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lehigh, Snyder, Schuylkill, Erie, Lycoming, Centre, Columbia and Chester.

--- In 2011, 21,000 acres of state land bearing apples contributed almost $80 million to the state's economy, with approximately $3 million coming from exports to places such as Central America, Israel and India. --


"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is derived from the old English saying, "Ate an apfel avore gwain to bed, make the doctor beg his bread." The author is unknown.


Apple recipe

Baked apple dumplings with cider sauce
For the dough:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
3/4 cup cold buttermilk
For the apple dumplings:
6 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons golden raisins, chopped
4 Golden Delicious apples
2 egg whites, lightly beaten

For the dough: Process flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in food processor until combined, about 15 seconds. Scatter butter and shortening over flour mixture and pulse until mixture resembles wet sand, about 10 pulses; transfer to bowl. Stir in buttermilk until dough forms. Turn out onto lightly floured work surface and knead briefly until dough is cohesive. Press dough into an 8-by-4-inch rectangle. Cut in half, wrap each half tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

For the apple dumplings: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. In second bowl, combine butter, raisins, and 3 tablespoons of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Peel apples and halve through equator. Remove core and pack butter mixture into each apple half.

On lightly floured counter, roll each dough half into a 12-inch square. Cut each 12-inch square into four 6-inch squares. Working with one at a time, lightly brush edges of dough square with egg white and place apple, cut side up, in center of each square. Gather dough 1 corner at a time on top of apple, crimping edges to seal. Use a paring knife to cut a vent hole in the top of each dumpling.

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange dumplings on prepared baking sheet, brush tops with egg white and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake until dough is golden brown and juices are bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes. Serve with cider sauce (recipe follows).

Makes 8 servings.

Cider sauce
1 cup apple cider
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Bring cider, water, sugar, and cinnamon to a simmer in small saucepan and cook over medium high heat until thickened and reduced to 11/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Off heat, whisk in butter and lemon juice. Drizzle over dumplings to serve.

Adapted from "The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook"