A viral trend on TikTok has users sharing generational myths their parents told them. From how drinking water at night can cause nightmares to how — if swallowed — chewing gum can stay in your stomach for seven years.
There also was the old saw about how eating an apple a day can keep you healthy. But is that a myth? Or is it real? Health experts jumped on the trend to talk about the apple-a-day lore.
Apples have many nutritional benefits, including vitamins K and C, potassium, copper and fiber. They also are rich in antioxidants and have been linked to lowering diabetes, contributing to weight loss, helping with gut health and could help fight asthma.
With its many benefits, is there truth to this old wives’ tale about how eating an apple a day can keep the doctor away?
In short, the answer is yes — and no.
“Eating an apple a day won’t hurt you, but without a nutritious diet, it may not be doing as much good as one would think,” said Courtney Coe, RDN, a registered dietitian at WellTheory.
In truth, too many apples can cause bloating, gas and diarrhea, and can lead to blood sugar issues. Apples also have high fiber properties, and introducing fiber too quickly to the body can “affect the body’s ability to absorb minerals and vitamins properly,” the University of California at Davis Department of Nutrition wrote.
“For people with poor metabolic health or diabetes, too much sugar from the fruit may also worsen insulin sensitivity or interfere with how well diabetes medications work,” nutrition expert and author Dr. Josh Axe told Health Digest.
