There are few holiday flavors and aromas that feel more welcoming and familiar than warm apple cider. The beverage has been around since Roman times, but interest has increased significantly in recent decades, with the global cider market valued at more than $7 billion in 2022. It is expected to grow further and reach more than $11 billion by 2032.
This growth is happening regionally as well as globally. “Our sales have increased over 100 percent over the past 10 years,” says Will Gormley, owner of Vermont’s 30-year-old Mountain Cider Company.
He cites apple cider’s “amazing flavor” and “nostalgic appeal” as reasons for its enduring popularity. Drinking it, he explains, “reminds people of holidays and fall activities.” He also said the drink is “a great coffee shop alternative for kids because it doesn’t contain caffeine.”
In addition to these practical benefits, apple cider also has some nutritional benefits, but as it is rich in natural sugars, it is important to avoid overconsumption.
What is apple cider?
Apple cider is made by “crushing apples and squeezing out the juice,” Gormley explains. “It’s a drink that can be enjoyed hot or cold without any added ingredients,” says LeeAnne Weintraub, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian and nutritional consultant. But more generally, “many people like it best when it’s flavored with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, or other spices,” she added.
Apple cider is different from apple juice, regardless of the addition of spices. That’s because juice contains more fine filtered sediment, while apple cider is “higher in pulp and fiber,” says R.D.N., a registered dietitian and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition. says one Caroline Susie. And nutrition.
Leslie Bonci, sports nutritionist for the Kansas City Chiefs and founder of Active Eating Advice, says apple juice is better because apple juice is always pasteurized and apple cider is only occasionally pasteurized. It has a long shelf life and is often clear and bright in color, he added. In contrast, apple cider is often darker in color, has a “stronger, tangier flavor, and usually has no added sweeteners,” she says.
Apple cider also comes in a “hard” version, Bonci explains, which is made “by adding yeast to ferment the sugars in the juice into alcohol.”
Is apple cider good for your health?
Non-alcoholic apple cider isn’t filtered in the same way as apple juice, so it’s “less processed, and as a result, it retains more fiber and vitamins,” says the registered dietitian and author of Finally Full,Finally says Lisa Young, author of “Slim”. Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at New York University.
Apple cider nutrients include small amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin, and iron. It also contains large amounts of potassium, which “helps control blood pressure,” Bonci says. And the vitamin C in apple cider “supports immune health,” Young says.
Weintraub also praises apple cider for being rich in polyphenols, which are “important compounds that support immune health and may help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.” “antioxidants,” she says. Apple cider pulp is also important, Susie points out, because it’s a good source of soluble fiber, which “helps with digestive health.”
Is it okay to drink apple cider every day?
Despite these benefits, there are reasons to avoid overconsumption of apple cider. Apple cider, for example, contains large amounts of natural sugar, “about 24 to 28 grams per serving,” Bonci says. The calories in a single serving of apple cider can be as high as 120 calories per ounce, and frequent consumption can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Another factor to consider is that “unpasteurized apple cider can contain harmful bacteria and should be avoided by people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and young children.” “Weintraub warns. Gormley agrees, pointing out that “for food safety reasons, when purchasing apple cider it’s best to get the pasteurized version.”
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