4. Reading. Task 3.1. An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

 

 

You have probably heard the saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” (1)  . But where does this expression come from, and is there any truth behind it?

People have always had a strong belief in the healing power of food. (2) . Apples are nutritional fruits, which were grown in many yards and could be stored all winter, so they were readily available and were seen as an easy and effective way to support health.

The roots of the expression date back to 19th-century Wales. At that time, it appeared as: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” However, over time the phrase changed to “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. (3) . This version was shorter and easier to
remember, which helped it spread beyond Wales and into common usage in English-speaking countries around the world. Passed from parent to child, teacher to student, and friend to friend, it became part of the language and has remained one of the most recognized health sayings for over a century.

 

A By 1913, it appeared in this more modern form in The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs.

B Other proverbs suggest that berries or citrus fruits offer a greater health advantage.

C This reliance on food was especially strong in the past in rural areas where access to medical care was limited.

D It has been passed down for generations, promoting the apple as a simple key to good health.