We’ve long heard of the saying: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But now, researchers have discovered a pear a day keeps the pounds away. A new study found that pears are associated with lower body weight.

People who consume pears are 35% less likely to be obese (肥胖的), scientists discovered. The study also found that pear consumption is associated with higher diet quality. Pears are an “excellent source” of fiber, in addition to being a good source of vitamin C. A single medium pear contains nearly 24% the daily fiber recommendations — and is only 100 calories.

Researchers from Louisiana State University looked at data from 2001 to 2010 for the study. They used a nationally representative sample to analyse the association of fresh pear consumption with nutrient intake, nutrient adequacy, diet quality and cardiovascular (心血管的) risk factors in adults. Dr Carol O’Neil, who led the study said, “The association between pears and lower weight is very exciting. We believe fiber intake may have driven the lower body weights that were seen in this study.” She added, “There was no difference in energy intake or level of physical activity found between the fresh pear consumers and non-consumers.”

According to the USDA Guidelines for Americans, people who eat more fruit as part of an overall healthy diet are more likely to reduce their risk of chronic diseases (慢性病), But the researchers noted that little has been published on the health outcomes associated with individual fruits—including pears. However, the USA Pear Bureau said it is continuing to cooperate with researchers to carry out additional studies to show the relationship between pears and positive health outcomes.

There are a couple different things that make ramen noodles an unhealthy choice. There’s not much to these provision packets besides salt and carbohydrates. While those certainly get thrown around quite a bit as “bad-for-you” comments, you may not know how they actually harm your body. Firstly, there’s the fact that most instant ramen servings contain over 1100 milligrams of sodium—that’s approaching half of the maximum you should eat per day. When you take in that much sodium in a single sitting, your body overcompensates by holding more water. This can cause temporary water weight gain, leaving you feeling bloated(肿胀) and lacking in energy.

But while you may feel bloated, chances are you won’t feel full. Since the ramen contains lots of refined carbohydrates with virtually no protein or fiber, it’s essentially the very definition of empty calories. And you’ve probably heard the song-and-dance about refined carbs; eating too much can lead your blood sugar to increase and then decrease, leaving you hungry and ready to eat again—which leads to weight gain.

And, perhaps most upsetting of all, this quick-and-easy meal may stay with you much longer than you realize. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Dr. Braden Kuo used a pill-sized camera to record the digestive tracts of volunteers who ate processed ramen noodles as well as fresh ones. With a video, Dr. Kuo was able to show that, after two hours when the fresh noodles were long gone, the ramen noodles were still there in the intestines.

Doctors do know that years of eating the instant packets are linked to poor health. Another study, this one by the Harvard School of Public Health, assessed the long-term consequences of ramen consumption in South Korea, where it’s a major course. They found that subjects, women in particular, who ate instant noodles at least twice a week had a 68 percent higher risk of diabetes and heart disease—than subjects who ate a more consistently natural diet.

In short, eating ramen once in a while won’t damage your health—as is true with most processed foods. But it’s not something you should make a habit of—for your stomach and heart’s sake.