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| An apple a day - proven to be good for you! |
Here we go again – the good old EU is messing us about by introducing silly little interfering rules, which are apparently stopping British apple
growers from claiming that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” – a saying
which has been in common use ever since Victorian times!
Apparently, this “gag” put on the health benefits of apples
has been in place since 2010, stating that you are unable to make any health
claim about apples unless it has been approved by the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA). Understandably, British fruit growers are totally frustrated by
such pettiness.
However, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel as scientists
from Oxford University ran a simulation of the effects of everyone in Britain
over the age of 50, who daily take statins versus apples. They found that
statins, hailed as a revolutionary treatment, would save 9,400 lives a year,
while the humble apple would save 8,500! So, EFSA put that on your plate and crunch it!
But wait, it gets better! The report goes on to say that side-effects from
statins mean that prescribing them to everyone over the age of 50 is predicted
to lead to over a thousand extra cases of muscle disease (myopathy) and over
ten thousand extra diagnoses of diabetes.
Whereas prescribing an apple a day to all adults aged 50 and
over would prevent or delay around 8,500 vascular deaths such as heart attacks
and strokes every year in the UK - similar to giving statins to everyone over
50 years who is not already taking them – but without the side effects!
A pretty convincing home win to British fruit growers I
reckon, don't you!
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