Description
Dried apples are tasty and healthy snack. Also known as apple rings, it is loaded with natural sweetness. The food drying is the oldest method to preserve food so that it could have later use. Drying discards the moisture from food so that yeast, bacteria and mold cannot grow and spoil food. It also slows down enzymes action but does not inactivate them. The increment in food temperature evaporates moisture and air moving food carries moisture away. The balance of humidity and temperature is essential for successful drying. The dried apples are chewy, soft and lack moisture due to the process of drying. It is tan to light brown in color. The core of apples are eliminated, then peeled and sliced latitudinally for making ring like shape.
Dried apples are an excellent source of both types of fiber i.e. insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber assists to control level of blood sugar and also reduces bad cholesterol levels. Insoluble fiber enhances digestive health. Dried apples are also loaded with antioxidants that protect cells from damage made by free radicals. It prossess immune boosting vitamins as well as minerals such as iron and calcium.
History
Possibly apples have been found two to ten million years ago. Sun-drying fruits are the popular method of preserving food since colonial times and have been in practice since Stone Age. In 1620, apples was brought by Pilgrims to North America and used for making pie, cider, vinegar and butter or also consumed in dried form.
Benefits
Why Eating Dried Apples Is Good for You
Behmard: Dehydrated fruits are an easy and convenient way to reach your recommended daily fruits intake. Dried apples are among the popular fruits that you can munch on every day. But, is eating dried apples really healthy? And what are the benefits of dried apples to your body’s overall well-being?
Health Benefits of Dried Apples
What are dried apples?
Apples are known to be tasty and juicy fruits. But what if you strip off all its water content? Will it be as good a snack as fresh apples?
Dried or dehydrated apples pertain to apple fruits that have their original water contents removed from them. They look like lightly-browned, thinly-sliced versions of fresh apples. Dried apples are often commercially-produced, but you can also make your own homemade version.
Dried apples are naturally sweet, making them a great-tasting snack alternative to fresh apples. Think of them as fruit chips in snack-size portions.
Drying apples is one of the oldest and simplest ways of preserving the fruit. Drying removes the water that food-spoiling microorganisms and enzymes use to thrive. Some methods for drying apples include the following:
Sun-drying
Using wind-tunnel dryers for mass production of dried apples
Placing apples in a dehydrator
Drying through an oven
Dried apples are packed in resealable food storage bags or containers. This makes them more hygienic and even less likely to spoil than apples preserved through canning methods.
Stocking up on dried apples is a common way to ensure that you have enough fruit supply for the winter months. It can be hard to find fresh apples and other fruits during winter, so people purchase lots of dried apples beforehand.
READ ALSO: Super Easy Methods for Drying Apples
Health benefits of eating dried apples
Some people have the misconception that dried fruits are not as healthy as fresh ones. This is a myth that truly needs to be busted. It’s because dried fruits such as apples also offer a lot of health benefits for everyone.
Light, crisp, and delicious dried apples give you a host of healthy goodness. The following list enumerates the health benefits of dried apples:
Dried apples prevent constipation and keep you full for long
Other methods of preserving fruits typically strip off the fruit’s fiber content. But not for dried apples.
One of the benefits of dried apples is that it packs a high amount of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Half a cup of dried apples already gives you approximately 3-4 grams of dietary fiber, sufficient to cover 13-20% of your daily fiber requirements.
Fiber keeps you satiated by preventing spikes in your blood sugar levels after meals. It also helps flush away toxins and harmful bacteria from your gut. Fiber softens your stool to keep constipation at bay as well. Soluble fiber is responsible for controlling your blood sugar levels, while insoluble fiber keeps your gut clean.
Choose dried apples that still have their skin, as it is where most of the fiber comes from.
Dried apples contain B-vitamins that are good for the hormones, brain, and energy
Dried apples contain two essential B-vitamins that promote energy metabolism, improve hormonal balance, and nourish the brain. They are pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
Pantothenic acid is responsible for helping your body create energy from the food you eat. It is also vital in hormone production. Dried apples contain approximately 3% of your recommended daily intake of the vitamin.
Pyridoxine is a B-vitamin that aids in metabolizing proteins and helps in creating neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical transmitters in the brain that improve brain response and function. Dried apples can cover around 6% of your recommended daily pyridoxine intake.
Dried apples improve cellular health
Dried apples are a rich source of antioxidants, especially polyphenols. These are substances that help fight off damage to your cells caused by free radicals.
Free radicals are molecules and atoms given off by substances such as air pollutants, pesticides, alcohol, and fried foods. Free radicals are absorbed by the body and cause damage to the cell through a process known as oxidation. This means that free radicals take the electrons found in the cell, leaving it with damaged proteins, membranes, and DNA.
Damaged cells can occur in any organ and system of your body. You might be unknowingly experiencing cellular damage in some parts of your body. Some symptoms of cellular damage may include physical fatigue, dry, dull skin, and mental instability.
Polyphenols are antioxidants that help damaged cells regenerate themselves. They can neutralize free radicals by replacing the electrons stolen from the cells. Polyphenols also help in reducing the number of free radicals that enter the body.
One of the benefits of dried apples is that it improves polyphenol levels in the body. The antioxidants released through eating dried apples help your cells cope with the effects of cellular damage. Your body’s cells will be nourished and will be equipped to heal themselves faster, leading to an increase in energy, a noticeable glow on your skin, and an improvement in your mood and mental function.
Dried apples increase your mineral intake
Minerals are a vital substance to keeping your body healthy. Some people might be surprised to know that among the benefits of dried apples is their mineral content. Dried apples carry key minerals that can contribute to your overall health and well-being:
Potassium – Half a cup of dried apples contains approximately 4% of your daily potassium needs. Potassium is vital for keeping your electrolyte and water levels in check. It’s also a mineral linked to improved brain and nervous system function.
Sodium – Like potassium, sodium is essential for keeping the water balance in your body. It also helps regulate blood volume and blood pressure. 40 grams of dried apples carry around 180 mg of sodium, which is approximately 8% of your recommended daily intake.
Iron – This mineral helps in creating fresh red blood cells, which then carry off oxygen in your blood to various parts of your body. Iron content in dried apples can cover 3-8% of your recommended daily intake.
Dried apples also contain trace minerals in tiny amounts, such as selenium, copper, and manganese.
Dried apples help maintain a healthy weight
Dried apples have zero fat content, making them an ideal snack for people who are currently watching their weight. They are also naturally sweet and can perfectly complement healthy foods such as salads and vegetables.
Be wary of eating lots of dried apples in one sitting, though. You can easily overeat them because of the small serving size. Stick to one cup of dried apples per meal to control your calorie intake.
Also, choose natural or organic options when buying commercially-prepared dried apples to spare yourself from the extra sugar in some candied varieties. Better yet, prepare your own homemade dried apples through your oven to ensure that no added sugars are included in your snack.
The Takeaway
There are lots of health benefits of dried apples that you simply cannot ignore. Branding them as nutritionally-lacking compared to their fresh fruit counterparts is simply a myth.
Dried apples improve your health in a myriad of ways. Eating them regularly:
Keeps you satiated
Improves your gut health
Helps you metabolize more energy
Helps improve brain and nerve function
Fights off cellular damage
Regulate water balance and blood volume
Improve oxygen delivery in the body
Help keep you at your ideal healthy weight
So, go ahead and stock up on dried apples. They’re a deliciously nutritious snack that keeps your tummy and body healthy and happy. It’s indeed a snack that’s good for you.
Dried Apples Nutrition Facts
Nutrients in Dried Apples
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 0.93 grams of protein, 0.32 grams of fat, 65.89 grams of carbohydrates, and 8.7 grams of fiber.
You have 243 calories from 100 grams of Dried Apples, the 12% of your total daily needs. It contains 0.32 grams of fat and 0 mg of Cholesterol.
Some minerals can be present in Dried Apples, such as Potassium (450 mg), Sodium (87 mg) or Phosphorus (38 mg) but no Fluoride.
It contains some important vitamins: Vitamin C (3.9 mg), Vitamin K (3.0 µg) or Vitamin B-3 (0.92 mg).
Energy
An average adult needs 2,000 calories per day, so you may have 243 calories from 100 grams of Dried Apples, the 12% of your total daily needs.
Total Fat
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 0.32 grams of total fat, of which 0.05 gr. are saturated.
Cholesterol
0 mg | 0% daily value
The AHA (American Heart Association) recommends limiting your daily cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams. Less than 200 if you are at a high risk of heart disease.
To reduce your risk for heart disease, choose healthy unsaturated fats, such as vegetable oils, fish oil, hummus, avocados, nuts and seeds instead of high-fat meats, shortening, butter and full-fat dairy products.
Carbohydrates
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 65.89 grams of carbohydrates, the 22% of your total daily needs.
Sugars
57.19 g
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 57.19 grams of sugars.
Dietary fiber
8.7 g | 35% daily needs
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 8.7 grams of dietary fiber, the 35% of your total daily needs.
Sodium
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 87 milligrams of Sodium, the 6% of your total daily needs.
Water
100 grams of Dried Apples contain 32% of water, 31.76 grams.
: Others
Protein
0.93 g
Ash
1.1 g
سبد خرید