The health effects of apple juice are a controversial subject. On one hand, it is one way to increase your daily servings of fruit. On the other, it will also increase your sugar and calorie load for the day. The key is moderation. If you feel like apple juice is a concern or if you have a specific health problem you believe can be attributed to the drink, talk to your doctor for advice.
Nutritional Value
Website Nutrient Facts reports that apple juice offers 170 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. This is just one of the nutritional perks you get from drinking the juice. You will also increase your intake of calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, magnesium, thiamine and phosphorus. One thing lacking in apple juice is dietary fiber. Fresh fruit will increase your fiber, but when juiced, apples lose this benefit. If you have a choice, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D. L.D. from Mayo Clinic suggests that fresh apples are the way to go.
Childhood Asthma
There is some indication that drinking apple juice from a concentrate will reduce wheezing in children with asthma. A 2007 study published in the "European Respiratory Journal" supports the theory that drinking one glass of apple juice a day will protect children from the symptoms of the condition. This is one benefit that juice has over the fresh fruit, which does not offer the same effect. The juice will not prevent a child from developing asthma, but may help to control it.
Pathogens
Most commercial juices go through a pasteurization process that eliminates bacteria and other pathogens. Unprocessed juice may not be safe to drink. A juice product that contains bacteria can lead to a number of serious medical conditions. When selecting an apple juice, choose only products that confirm pasteurization.
Cancer Prevention
A 2008 study by the German Cancer Research Center found that the polyphenols and phytochemicals in apples may help reduce the risk of certain cancers. This benefit does translate to the juice form of the fruit. Regular consumption of one serving of apple, either as a whole fruit or a juice, can lower your odds of developing lung and colon cancer.
Expert Insight
Selecting the right juice will enhance the benefits and reduce some of the pitfalls. Look for products that are 100 percent juice. Avoid apple juice that uses artificial sweeteners or sucrose to supplement the flavor. Babies under the age of six months should not drink apple juice unless the pediatrician recommends it. Avoid feeding apple juice to a toddler from a bottle, which increases the incidence of tooth decay. Above all, keep in mind that even though juice is a healthy choice, too much is not a good thing. Excess juice may be one culprit in the rising rate of childhood obesity.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics; The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics; 2001
- "The European Repiratory Journal;" Childhood Asthma and Fruit Consumption; J Okoko, PG Burney, RB Newson, JF Potts, SO Shaheen; 2007
- Planta Med; Cancer Chemopreventive Potential Of Apples, Apple Juice, And Apple Components; C. Gerhauser; 2008
- Pedatrics; Excess Fruit Juice Consumption By Preschool-Aged Children Is Associated With Short Stature And Obesity; B.A. Dennison, H.L. Rockwell, S. L. Baker; 1997
- Nutrient Facts; Apple Juice Nutrition Facts; 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Fruit juice: Is It Good or Bad for Kids?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; 2009
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