Researchers say eating this type of food reduces the chance of five types of cancer

New research has found that eating apples could reduce the risk of getting five different types of cancer.

Experts at the University of Perugia in Italy found that those who eat an apple a day were much less likely to get lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract or breast tumours, in comparison to people who rarely or never eat apples. They researched 40 different types of studies to back up their findings which were published in the Public Health Nutrition. According to The Daily Mail, the biggest benefits of eating the fruit were noticed in cancer of the stomach and oesophagus, where it was found that apples nearly halved the risk of tumours. Along with those findings it was established that lung tumour rates among people who ate apples were 25% lower while the risk of breast cancer was 20% lower. Speaking about the findings they've said:

"Because of the peculiar chemical composition and the potential molecular mechanisms involved, it is possible some types of fruits and vegetables may be much more strongly associated with cancer risk than others. "Our interest was attracted by apples as they are the most consumed fruit in European countries and a rich source of phytochemicals. "This provides convincing evidence of the protective ability of apples against lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract and breast cancers.

"But more studies will be needed to clarify the effects in other anatomical sites."

You know what they say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.