An apple a day’

There’s new proof an apple a day (applesauce and apple juice too!) really could do the trick, staving off major risk factors for both heart disease and diabetes.

According to a study presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting in San Diego, people who ate apples or apple products were 27 percent less likely to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms considered to be a precursor to heart disease and diabetes. They also had lower blood pressure, were more likely to have healthier diets overall and had less abdominal fat (so the term “apple-shaped” may actually be a bit of a misnomer).

Looking for more disease-fighting foods? Check out our slideshow.