Could an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

Yes, a new study suggests, just as apple season arrives. In Sweden, where rates of kidney cancer are among the world’s highest, researchers found that people who ate an apple a day — and just a small apple, at that — had 60% less risk of kidney cancer than non-apple eaters.

Could an apple a day really keep the doctor away? 1

Eating more fruit in general was linked to lower risk, too — but the study looked at apples alone because they’re so popular in Sweden. In fact, many Swedish families grow their own apple trees in the backyard, says study co-author Alicja Wolk, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Orange and dark green veggies like carrots and kale may also ward off kidney cancer, a previous study found (Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, April 1997).

What’s the best eating apple

Could an apple a day really keep the doctor away? We posed this question to four top owner/chefs of four legendary American restaurants. Their favorites? Three full-flavored “specialty” apples shipped only in small quantities beyond their growing areas. If you find these varieties in a farmer’s market or grocery, pounce. (All can be used for cooking, too.) Or, try any locally grown apple – they’re often the most flavorful.

EXPERT FAVORITE
APPLE
WHAT’S SO TEMPTING
Tom Douglas
(Dahlia Lounge, Seattle)
Melrose: shiny skin, red with yellow background;
top growing state — Ohio
Very sweet with a hint of tartness; very firm
Larry Forgione
(An American Place, NYC)
Alice Waters
(Chez Panisse, Berkeley, CA)
Gravenstein:
yellowish-green
streaked with red;
top growing state — California
Decidedly tart; soft skin, crisp interior
Jack McDavid
(Jack’s Firehouse, Philadelphia)
Stayman: dull skin, deep purplish red;
top growing state — Pennsylvania
Balance of tangy and sweet; lushly juicy and crisp

 

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