Do green apples help seasickness?
Verdict: Untested
No trial has ever tested it. This is cruise-ship folklore — harmless, mildly plausible, and completely unstudied, which is a more useful thing to know than a confident yes or no.
What it's claimed to do
Anyone who has sailed will have seen the bowls of green apples appear near the gangway when the forecast turns. Crew swear by them and hand them out; passengers pass the tip along.
- YesTested for motion sickness and it held up.
- ProbablyReal trial support, but modest or from a single study.
- MixedTrials disagree — some found an effect, better-designed ones did not.
- Untestedthis remedyNo one has tested this for motion sickness. It may still be sensible.
- NoTested for motion sickness and it did not beat a placebo.
Levels describe the state of the published research on motion sickness specifically — not on nausea in general, and not how well something worked for any individual. “Untested” means no trial has looked; it is not the same as a remedy having been tested and failed.
What the research actually says
We looked for a trial and there is not one. What there is instead is a genuinely widespread and long-standing practice among ships' crews, which is worth taking seriously as a piece of practical culture even though it is not evidence. The explanations offered are all plausible and none has been tested: that the tartness cuts the taste in the mouth that accompanies nausea, that pectin settles the stomach, that the crispness and mild sugar help someone who has not eaten, and that having something bland to chew is a distraction. The chewing-gum trial gives that last one a little indirect support, having found that a pleasant taste tracked with less sickness. There is also a simpler possibility nobody can rule out: the apples appear when the crew expect it to get rough, so passengers who take one are already primed to expect trouble and to be pleased when it does not arrive. We would rather tell you that this is untested than pretend either that it works or that it is nonsense.
No studies to list. We could not find a controlled trial testing this for motion sickness. That is the finding, and we would rather show you an empty table than fill it with research about a different condition.
Safety & what to watch for
- Untested means untested. Do not make it the plan for a crossing you are worried about.
- It is food, so the risks are the ordinary ones — allergies, and the fact that something acidic may not sit well with everyone.
- If the apples are appearing, that is information in itself: the crew are expecting movement. Use it as a cue to take the measures that do have evidence behind them.
If you want to try it
- Take one if it is offered — it costs nothing and it is a mild, bland thing to eat, which is sensible on a rough passage anyway.
- Treat it as company for the evidenced measures, not a replacement: get on deck, find the horizon, sit midships and low.
- If you have not eaten, an apple is a better idea than a heavy meal or nothing at all.
- Crackers or plain bread do the same job for anyone who does not want the acidity.
Something with better evidence: Does looking at the horizon help motion sickness — verdict yes, and it costs nothing to try.
Looking for something drug-free?
Try Dizzout Free
We make a free, drug-free app that plays calibrated sound through headphones you already own. We hold it to the same standard as everything on this page: it is not a medication, it will not suit everyone, and if a forward view and slow breathing are enough for you, use those first.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cruise ships hand out green apples?+
It is a long-standing crew tradition rather than a policy grounded in research. The usual explanations involve tartness, pectin and having something bland to eat, but none has been tested in a trial.
Does it have to be a green apple?+
There is no evidence that variety matters, because there is no evidence at all. The tartness of a green apple is the part of the folklore people emphasize.
What actually works on a rough crossing?+
The measures with real support are a view of the horizon, a cabin or seat low and midships where the vessel moves least, and controlled breathing. Ginger has trial evidence at sea. Medication is worth discussing with a pharmacist before you sail.
Check another remedy
Explore more
When it isn't motion sickness. Severe or lasting dizziness, a spinning sensation at rest, hearing loss, ringing in one ear, double vision, a bad headache, chest pain, fainting, or vomiting you cannot stop are not motion sickness. Seek medical care rather than a travel remedy.
Dizzout is not a medical provider and nothing here is medical advice. These pages summarize published research so you can weigh it — they cannot account for your health, your medicines or your pregnancy. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement or medication, especially if you take other drugs, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are buying for a child. Evidence summaries reflect the published literature as of July 2026 and describe findings in groups of people, which cannot predict your individual response. Product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.