Surprising Side Effects of Eating Applesauce, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not That

we’ve all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about applesauce? This often portable and always tasty puréeeeMost likely, fruit is lurking in your pantry or refrigerator. More than just the perfect fruit for kids, applesauce is an easy way to entice people of any age to eat an extra serving of fruit.

Grab a spoon and enjoy these four surprising side effects of eating applesauce.

probiotics like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir get all the glory for gut health, but they can’t do their job without a healthy dose of prebiotics. “Apples are a prebiotic food, which means they feed the good bacteria in your gut,” he says. Amanda SaucedaMS, DR. Other prebiotic foods include beans, oatmeal, bananas, berries, and Garlic.

Feeding the good bacteria in the gut is only part of the story. A cup of applesauce without sugar it has two grams of fiber, most of which is soluble. Soluble fiber It helps slow down digestion, which improves the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat.

If you’re looking for easy ways to cut calories without sacrificing your favorite foods, applesauce can help.

“Using applesauce as a substitute for cooking oil in a 1-to-1 ratio helps reduce calories from fat, supports heart health, and provides an additional way to incorporate some fruit,” she says. Andrew AkhaphonMS, DR, LDregistered dietitian for Mackenthun’s Fine Foods.

AN cup unsweetened applesauce has only 25 calories compared to the 964 calories found in a half a cup of canola oil.

Akhaphong adds that “apple sauce as an oil substitute works best for cakes and bread-like products such as muffins, brownies, and yellow cake.”

There is nothing worse than a stomach bug that makes it hard to eat or keep anything down. “Apple sauce is a healthy source of hydration when you’re sick,” says Megan Byrd of The Oregon Dietitian. This can be helpful when you have vomiting or diarrhea, both of which increase your risk of dehydration.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

88 percent of applesauce is water compound. This means that just a half cup of applesauce adds 3.5 ounces of water to your system. Applesauce gets even more bonus points like sick day food as it is relatively smooth, easy to digest and a quick source of energy.

Not all applesauce is created equal. You’ll want to read the label carefully as added sugar and high fructose corn syrup are common ingredients in this packaged food.

Some applesauce brands can have up to 15 grams of added sugar in a four-ounce serving. this amount of added sugar it is significant. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association They recommend that children and women consume less than 25 grams of added sugar per day and that men eat less than 38 grams per day.

to avoid the Health risks of added sugar (including increased risk of heart disease and diabetes) and enjoy this pure fruitmeFor health benefits, choose only unsweetened applesauce.

Related: 14 sneaky sources of added sugar

Kelsey Lorencz, RDN