Apple Juice health benefit
Cloudy apple juice has more health benefits than clear
apple juice. In a head-to-head comparison of apple juices, Polish researchers
found that pulpy, non-clarified juice carried more
antioxidants than clear apple
juice. Unlike cloudy apple juice, the much more common clear variety undergoes
additional processing to remove any apple solids. Manufacturers typically think
the public will favor the more attractive, clear juice over its cloudy cousin,
and retailers prefer the clear variety for its longer shelf life. Dr. Jan Oszmianski, at the Agricultural University of Wroclaw, found, cloudy apple juice
had four times the level of polyphenols, a group of antioxidant plant compounds.
And in experiments, cloudy juice was the more effective free radical scavenger.
The findings are based on four juices that the study authors prepared
themselves, using two varieties of apple -- Champion and Idared. Cloudy apple
juice from Champion apples turned out to be the most antioxidant-rich, but
clarification of either juice cut their antioxidant levels significantly.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, online January 15, 2005.
Comments: It's a good idea to consume a variety of fruit juices as
opposed to just one or two types that most Americans drink, such as apple juice
and orange juice. As part of a healthy
diet, choose cloudy apple
juice over clear apple juice. For a natural sugar
alternative, see
stevia.
Apple juice emails
Q. I had heard from a nurse friend of mine years ago that there was a
study in a medical magazine comparing unfiltered apple juice and penicillin. The
study claimed that low doses of unfiltered apple juice had the same curative
effects as penicillin. Do you know of this article? I found some reading
material on the positive immune improving qualities of apple juice (unfiltered
only), so perhaps that is what she was talking about. Could have been a bit
misinterpreted.
A. Apple juice unfiltered, along with many
herbs and plants have
mild antibacterial properties, but in case of a serious infection with a
bacteria, such as pneumonia, one would rely on taking penicillin or other
antibiotics rather than drinking unfiltered apple juice.