"An apple a day keeps the Doctor away."  But what about two apples a day?  Robert Rickman says that's even better...

VERBATIM:

When it comes to strokes, the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” might be half true.

A new review of 20 studies suggests that eating 200 grams of fruit a day — the equivalent of two small apples — can cut your stroke risk by almost a third. Your stroke risk drops 11 percent with every 200 grams of vegetables consumed daily, according to the study, published in the journal Stroke.

The findings held up even when the researchers accounted for other factors like smoking, alcohol, high blood pressure, physical activity and body mass index.

Nutrition experts not involved with the study said the research offers one more important reason to load up on fruits and vegetables.

“This is a direct refutation of all the recent ‘eat more meat, butter, cheese’ nonsense,” said Dr. David Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center. “This study delivers a very clear message: more vegetables and fruits in your diet equals less risk of stroke in your lifetime. Period.”  Health news from WGNS.

The American Heart Association reports that every year, five percent of Tennessee's population dies from strokes.  Stroke is the fourth most common cause of death from disease in the Volunteer state, behind heart disease cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease.