Eating an apple a day doesn't keep the doctor away, but it does reduce the amount of trips you make to the drug store per year. That's according to a new study that investigates whether there's any truth in the old saying.
A team of researchers led by Dr Matthew Davis, of the University of Michigan School of Nursing, asked 8,399 participants to answer survey questions about diet and health. A total of 753 were apple eaters, consuming at least 149g of raw apple per day. The remaining 7,646 were classed as non-apple eaters. When both groups answered questions on trips to the doctor and trips to the drug store per year, the apple eaters were found to be 27% less likely to visit the druggist for drugs.
Trips to the doctor were not significantly affected by apple consumption, though. "Evidence does not support that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. However, the small number of US adults who eat an apple a day does appear to use fewer prescription medications," the study concludes.
Apple eaters were also found to be less likely to smoke and be more likely to have a higher educational attainment than non-apple eaters. While apples do not compete with oranges, they do contain some immune（免疫的）system-increasing vitamin C, which may be why apple-eaters visit the druggist less. With over 8mg of vitamin C per medium-sized fruit, an apple can provide roughly 14% your daily recommended intake.
Previous studies have also linked apple consumption to a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes（二型糖尿病）,improved lung function and a lower risk of colon（结肠）cancer.
What is the conclusion of the study?（ ）
- A.Apple consumption has greatly reduced US adults' trips to the doctor
- B.An apple a day does keep the doctor away
- C.Apples are far more nutritious than oranges
- D.A small number of US adult apple eaters tend to take less medicine
正确答案及解析
正确答案
解析
由第三段最后一句可知，研究结果表明，每天吃一个苹果的少数美国人似乎确实服用较少的处方药，故选D。
