How Small Changes in Diet Can Make a Real Difference in Health

An apple a day or statins for heart attack and stroke prevention? This is a specific question, but the answer provides a valuable, wide ranging lesson regarding nutritional health in general. Researchers in the United Kingdom (UK) conclude that the 150-year-old public health message: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is rooted in science. Researchers at Oxford University modeled the effect of an apple a day on death from vascular diseases such as cerebrovascular and heart disease. The model covered the entire UK population aged 50 years and over. An apple a day was found to match the health benefits of statin drugs, with predictably fewer side effects. The research was published in the British Journal of Medicine.

Using mathematical models researchers tested how a 150-year-old proverb might compare with the more widespread use of statins in the UK population. They calculate that offering a daily statin to 17.6 million more adults would reduce the annual number of vascular deaths by 9,400, while offering a daily apple to 70% of the total UK population aged over 50 years (22 million people) would avert 8,500 vascular deaths

Dr. Adam Briggs of the BHF Health Promotion Research Group at Oxford University said: “The Victorians had it about right when they came up with their brilliantly clear and simple public health advice: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This study shows how small changes in diet can make a real difference in preventing heart disease and stroke. The larger benefit is knowing that small changes in diet affect all aspects of health and wellness. A small change, any change will bestow benefits. Moving to Grass fed beef, pasture raised better than Organic chicken, pastured heritage breed pork, local seafood and seasonal vegetables can make a huge difference in your life and lifestyle. It also lends credibility to a quote from the man known as the father of modern medicine.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

~Hippocrates

Wayne Coolidge Jr., M.Ed. is a scholar-practitioner, author, and speaker. He owns Healthy Dynamic Living, an innovative health promotion consulting firm.