The Humerus Daily

Many of us grew up hearing the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away;” however, a new study finds that taking this advice too literally can lead to severe malnutrition, which in fact, does not keep the doctors away. 

Apples are delicious fruits that contain many vital minerals and nutrients, such as vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Apples have also been shown to aid in weight loss, blood sugar control, and cholesterol levels. While they hold many advantages in one small package, they are also missing many key nutrients needed for sustaining a healthy lifestyle.  

Harvard’s leading nutrition experts recently conducted a 30-day, 100-person prospective cohort study in which half of the subjects were instructed to eat just 1 apple a day, of any type, while the other half would eat a standard diet. The subjects were matched according to various demographics prior to analysis for improved study validity. The researchers discovered that the apple-only group had improved energy and rated their moods higher for days one and two; however, there was a sharp decline after that. By the end of the month-long study, 34 subjects in the apple-only group were hospitalized for malnutrition, compared to just one in the standard diet group. 

The Humerus Daily reached out to the scientists for comment. “While apples are a great, healthy snack, they should be consumed as part of a well-rounded diet rather than being the diet,” stated the lead scientist on the study, Brock O. Lee, “this landmark study provides strong evidence that nutritionists can add to their ever-growing arsenals of healthy diets for patients to use.”  

The Humerus Daily does not claim to provide any nutritional information. Please reach out to a nutrition or healthcare expert before making any dietary decisions.