An Apple a Day...

Everyone knows the old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Now, there is research to back this claim. In fact, a study out of Oxford University asserts that eating an apple a day is as effective as statin medications at preventing death by heart attack or stroke for people over the age of 50. Perhaps the best quote from one of the researchers is as follows: “Prescribing either an apple a day or a statin a day to everyone over 50 yeas old is likely to have a similar effect on population vascular mortality." They go on to state "choosing apples rather than statins may avoid more than a thousands excess cases of myopathy and more than 12,000 excess diabetes diagnoses.”

Why do apples help with vascular conditions? Apples are rich with antioxidants and chemical compounds called flavanoids (especially quercetin), all of which are good for our health and wellbeing. Apples also provide a good source of fiber which helps slow plaque buildup in blood vessels from cholesterol.

The researchers found one problem with eating apples as opposed to taking a statin drug...apples currently cost more! So, should you still be taking that statin drug? Only your doctor can tell you if you should or should not be on cholesterol medication. However, new recommendations have recently been released that will place millions of Americans on statins that were not previously candidates. If you are concerned about taking these drugs, please talk to your doctor about other options.

You can read more about this study by following this link.

If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on our website.