That apple a day apparently will help keep the doctor away.

A new study lends credence to that old adage by showing that eating apples every day seems to lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol as well as markers for artery wall inflammation and plaques, according to a WebMD.com story.

“We were pleasantly surprised ...” that apples so effectively lowered LDL cholesterol, says study researcher Bahram H. Arjmandi of the Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences at The Florida State University in Tallahassee. The study was presented at Experimental Biology 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Experts believe that the apple’s pectin, a soluble fiber that inhibits cholesterol absorption, may account for the fruit’s heart healthy benefits.

To read the complete WebMD.com story, Go Here Now.