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An Apple a Day . . .

Well, five apples a week—at least—may not keep the doctor away, but they could help your respiratory system. That’s what new research shows. Researchers from St. George’s Hospital in London studied 138 Welsh men and found that those who ate apples regularly had healthier airways with fewer obstructions.

The scientists hypothesize that antioxidants present in apples may be the force at work here. The study also identified Vitamin E—an important antioxidant—as a catalyst for easier breathing, but its effect was weaker than that of apples. Other substances—including antioxidants Vitamin C and beta carotene, and citrus fruit and other fruit juices—did not seem to improve lung function.