and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread." An apple a day keeps the doctor

away! But will it, REALLY?

Apples are native to central Eurasia -- what is now Kazakhstan and have been spread across

the world by traders and travelers over the centuries. 1,500 years ago, apples appeared

in Ayurvedic medicine -- an ancient holistics practice -- and apples were thought of as

healthful by the ancient Anglo-Saxon and Roman societies. "An apple a day sends the doctor

away" was first used in 1922, and unsurprisingly, it's stuck around!

Also unsurprisingly, since people say it all the time, science studied it, and apples ARE

healthful! Eating an apple every day could prevent 8,500 vascular-related deaths in people

over 50, according to the British Medical Journal. A 2011 study from the Journal of

the American Heart Association found people who ate "white" fruits and vegetables -- apples

and pears, for example -- had a 52 percent lower incidence of stroke and heart attack.

So what is it about apples? Are they some kind of miracle fruit? I mean, not the actual

miracle fruit that makes things taste funny -- but like, a specially healthful one? Apples

contain the following building blocks as broken down by HowStuffWorks: Pectin: you may have

seen this on some processed labels, apples contain them naturally, it's a form of fiber

related to reducing blood pressure, LDL and glucose levels. Boron: which supports healthy

bones and brains. Quercetin (qwar-sehtin): is a flavonoid which may reduce damage from

free radicals -- atoms in the body with unpaired electrons which can damage cells. Free radicals

can damage DNA, so reducing them has been linked to lower risks of cancers, Alzheimer's

and age-related problems. Vitamin C, A, E, and beta carotene which also fight free radicals,

boost immune response, reduce risk of heart disease, asthma, and diabetes.

Guys, all that sounds pretty frickin' AWESOME TO ME.

And that's not ALL. According to the Institute of Food Research, apples also contain polyphenols,

can block a protein receptor called VEGF, which helps cancer progression in the body!

Polyphenols are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and other things like green tea!

But the thing is, apples aren't alone in these properties. Pears contain a lot of the same

nutrients, in fact -- so do MANY fruits and berries. Compounds in cranberries and blueberries

fight urinary tract infections, blackberries and strawberries have fiber, bananas have

potassium: which boosts heart and muscle function. They ALL have a lot of fructose though, which

in large quantities ISN'T great… If you ate only apples, you'd become severely malnourished;

no one thing can sustain the human body -- we need a variety of things. An apple (or pear

or other fruit or vegetable) may keep the doctor away, but it's not going to do it alone.

Do you eat apples? Do you even LIKE apples? What's your favorite fruit? I WANT TO KNOW.

I used to like apples. I think I ate too many. TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS.

And if you're like me, you're worried what will happen to all our food if nuclear war

happens, or climate change devastates the planet -- I worry about stuff, guys -- but

my friend Evan over on Seeker explored the Svalbard Seed Vault -- Humanity's last best

hope -- for a tasty future.Thanks

for watchin' DNews y'all! Subscribe. Like. Share. Love. Hugs. Eat. See ya.