I remember as a child having my mother encouraging my brothers and I to eat apples telling us: “ Eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Back then, I would do anything to keep the “doctor away” because in those old days, every time you saw a doctor, a big needle would come out and you would get this very painful shot of penicillin.
The aphorism about apples and doctors started out in the 1800’s: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” – first recorded use is in 1860s; it is said to be an old saying from Pembrokeshire in Wales. The current expression evolved from the original phrase ‘‘Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” In the 19th and early 20th century, the phrase evolved to “an apple a day, no doctor to pay” and “an apple a day sends the doctor away”. The phrasing commonly used now was first recorded in 1922.
So, let’s dive into the nutritional value of an apple:
Apples are very “water dense” with 86% of its content being water. Apples also contain lots fiber (4 grams) and Vitamin C as well as providing a great sense of “fullness”. The calorie count of a medium size apple is around 95 and there are 13 grams of carbs and 10 grams of sugar.
In the Serotonin-Plus Program, after Phase 1 we start encouraging fruit intake. Apples would be a great fruit to incorporate as studies have shown that the intake of apples can contribute to losing weight. Given the carb and sugar content, the number of apples consumed daily should be monitored.
The bottom line: Apples are a good choice for fruit intake when a person is in a weight losing mode. And as far as the earlier expressions that included something about “doctors not earning their bread” and “no doctor to pay”, I am sure glad not everyone eats apples…I would hate to be out of work!
And here is a great oldie: “Little Green Apples” by O.C. Smith…a ride back to memory lane.
