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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Juice >>  Apple Juice

Apple Juice Health Benefits


Apples and apple juice have long been recommended as the perfect food to maintain good health and to keep the doctor away. The unique combination of vitamins, phytonutrients and flavanoids in apples and apple juice acts as a protective barrier against diseases, particularly those related to cell damage like cancer. Apples come in different sizes and colors and may be sweet, tart or fragrant, depending on the variety. Apple juice is usually made by mixing apples of all three varieties to get a smooth tasting drink. Homemade apple juice is better because it is fresh and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
With just 117 calories in apple juice for an eight ounce glass, it is a favorite with dieters as the sugars in the juice helps to maintain high energy levels even when they are on a diet.

An apple juice diet is a detox diet with a nourishing liquid that helps to cleanse the body. There is no limit on the amount of apple juice a dieter can drink, and the dieter never feels hungry, thanks to the effect of the water and apple juice consumed through the day. Carrot juice or orange juice can be blended with the apple juice for variation in taste during this juice fast. For those who are concerned about apple juice nutrition in the packaged juice on supermarket shelves and the chemicals and preservatives used in them, organic apple juice is an option. Experts also suggest that health conscious consumers should opt for cloudy apple juice over the clear one because the cloudy juice contains more antioxidants. Clarified apple juice goes through more stages of processing to remove any suspended apple solids in the juice and in the process loses some of its antioxidants. Apple juice recipes to make the juice at home use a fruit press and a sieve to compress and strain the chopped fruit to extract the juice. The apple cider that is extracted can be consumed as it is or strained further with a cheese cloth or a paper filter to obtain a clear golden juice.

Apple juice benefits the cardiovascular system as well as the digestive system in the body. Phytonutrients in the juice help in the fight against the build-up plaque on the walls of arteries by delaying the break down of LDL or bad cholesterol. The soluble and insoluble fiber in the juice mop up toxins and cholesterol from the intestines and eliminate them from the body by facilitating easy movement of food down the digestive tract. In fact, in the case of babies and toddlers, apple juice for constipation is the easiest and most delicious of all remedies. Getting a child to drink up a half cup of apple juice or prune juice is easier than feeding the solid food, which might in fact be the reason for the constipation. The potassium in apple juice adds strength to bones and helps people with rheumatism and arthritis. Apart from these, consuming apple juice is said to reduce asthma attacks as the combination of flavanoids in apples provides a defense against asthma attacks. Reconstituted apple juice made from frozen apple juice concentrate is used where it is not possible to make fresh apple juice. Apple juice concentrate may be clear or cloudy juice, though choosing the cloudy juice means more nutrients for the body. A major advantage of apple juice is that it is easy to digest and hardly causes any allergic reactions in humans. This makes it an ideal juice for babies and infants, and they readily drink it, thanks to its sweetness. However, dentists warn against letting toddlers go to sleep with a juice bottle in the mouth as the sugar can cause tooth decay.

Submitted on January 16, 2014