Study: An apple a day really does keep the doctor away

Posted at: 12/18/2013 5:35 PM
Updated at: 12/18/2013 6:54 PM
By: WNYT Staff / NBC News

You've heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

Now, research proves it's true.

Researchers in the United Kingdom used mathematical models to estimate the effect that eating an apple a day has on adults over 50.

They compared that to the impact of taking statins - cholesterol lowering drugs.

They found over 8,000 deaths from stroke and heart attack could be avoided each year if older adults ate an apple a day.

Just over 9,000 deaths would be prevented with the statins - but cases of diabetes and muscle disease would rise due to side effects linked to the drugs.