The original phrase, which dates from 19th century Wales according to Caroline Taggart author of “An Apple A Day: Old-Fashioned Proverbs and Why They Still Work, was ‘‘Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

During the 19th and early 20th century, the phrase evolved to “an apple a day, no doctor to pay” and “an apple a days sends the doctor away.”

The current version “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was first recorded in 1922 as a marketing slogan by American apple growers, who produced hard cider and apple-cider based wines.

The benefits of eating apples

Apples contain a protein called pectin, which is a soluble, fermentable and viscous fibre, modest amounts of vitamin C and other essential nutrients – Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. It is this combination of fibre, vitamin C and other essential nutrients that give apples their disease-fighting qualities.

The benefits of eating apples are numerous, however the ones of interest to us include:

Reduced cholesterol
The pectin found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates into lower cholesterol levels.

Reduced risk of coronary artery disease
People with a diet high in soluble fibre have a slower build up of cholesterol rich plaque in their arteries. The phenolic compound in the skin of apples also prevents cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls.

Lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels
There is good evidence that the consumption of fresh apples, apple juice and apple sauce on a regular basis lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer, and promotes general wellness, including a more healthy immune system.

A healthy immune system
Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, particularly if you are run down and stressed.

So will an apple a day keep the doctor away?

I quess we may never really know the answer. However, there is certainly enough evidence to suggest that an apple a day is good for you. Apples are reasonably cheap, available most of the year, and can be eaten raw, cooked or juiced…

Heart disease remains a major cause of death yet there is much that you can do to prevent it. By this I don’t mean just taking tablets for cholesterol which costs the system and individuals billions of dollars each year. Some of the tips below may look obvious, whilst others may surprise you. Here are ten simple tips on heart health.

1) Follow a Mediterranean diet. Rates of heart disease are lower in countries around the Mediterranean Ocean where they eat vegetables, fish, garlic, olive oil and drink a little red wine whilst going easy on red meat. You do not have to live in Europe to have these principles in your diet.

2) Eat Tomatoes. The red color of the tomato is due to lycopene. This has been shown to be a strong anti oxidant and research has also shown it helps lower blood pressure and C-reactive protein, which is a marker for, increased risk of heart disease.

3) Laugh. Volunteers who watched funny videos and were laughing at them were found to have relaxation of their blood vessels. This helps lower blood pressure. You also cannot be stressed when you are laughing so find things to laugh at.They are there if you look for them.

4) Eat fiber. It has long been known that fiber is good for the bowel. Eating a diet rich in fiber also helps keep your heart healthy.

5) Do some regular exercise. Whether it is walking, running,swimming or other exercise does not matter. Fitness reduces your chances of heart problems and that is independent of its benefits on weight.

6) Get some sunshine. The importance of vitamin D in health is an expanding field. People with low vitamin D levels are more susceptible to heart disease. The best form of vitamin D is free from the sun. Get around 10 minutes per day on a few days per week.This amount will not lead to sunburn.

7) Eat chocolate. This will be a popular one. Polyphenols in dark chocolate help to increase your good cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol. Previous studies have even suggested that a small intake of chocolate helped people who have had a heart attack recover a bit quicker. You only need about 40g per day and 70% cocoa is best.

8) Manage stress. Psychosocial factors are estimated to account for 30% of heart attack risk. Managing stress better is known to reduce the likelihood of having a heart attack. It has also been shown that even for people who have heart disease, stress management lowers recurrence and increases survival.

9) Take up Tai-Chi. People who do regular Tai-Chi have been shown to have lower blood pressure and lower rates of heart disease. The same applies for regular meditation.

10) Stay Positive. There are no guarantees in life and even if we do all the “right” things we may still get sick. Even if you have a heart attack, long-term survival and quality of life is improved by simply taking an optimistic view on life. You do not have to be over the top or unrealistic. Simply looking for the positives is correlated with better outcomes.

We have come to associate preventing heart attack with the need to take tablets. Some people may need medication despite doing the right things. However we can reduce our reliance on tablets and enjoy better heart health by applying the very simple principles outlined above.

And now please download your Free E Book “Essential DIY Health” at http://drjoe.net.au

Do you want to look and feel better? Get knowledge and tips on ways that you can take charge of your own health from a doctor who actually talks about health. Dr Joe’s Do It Yourself Health is your toolbox, complete with instructions on how to improve your health and well being today.

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