While most people grow up learning that eating an apple a day will surely keep the doctor a way, researchers have found even more proof that the fruit can have considerable health benefits.

In fact, findings from a new Florida State University study indicate that an apple a day can actually lower bad cholesterol - known as LDL - and increase the good HDL variety in postmenopausal women. Researchers tracked 160 women ages 45 to 65 who ate either dried apples or prunes for a year to come to their results, and found that the apple-eaters saw their LDL levels drop by 23 percent in six months. Moreover, their HDL levels increased by four percent over the course of the study.

Women in the apple group ate two-thirds of a cup of dried apples per day. Although the apple slices added 240 calories to their daily diet, they lost an average of 3.3 pounds during the course of the investigation.

Most fruits contain healing qualities that can keep people from acquiring ailments that may increase their health insurance premiums. Prunes, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, plums, and red grapes - among others - are rich with disease-fighting antioxidants that can lower the risk for many chronic diseases.