Apple pectin is an excellent source of soluble fiber, which can provide a number of impressive health benefits for overall health.
What is Apple Pectin?
Pectin is a type of soluble fiber that is found in the cell walls of all plant matter. However, every type of plant is different in this regard, but apples are particularly high in this beneficial nutrient. As a type of water-soluble fiber, pectin is able to help a number of bodily processes, from digestion to cardiovascular health. Just as all plants contain some level of pectin, all apples do as well, but the amount may vary slightly between apple cultivars. [1]
Nutritional Facts
When it comes to nutrition, pectin is a soluble fiber, which is a form of carbohydrate, but in a single apple, it contributes a negligible amount of calories. However, apple pectin is often sold in larger concentrations. In a 50-gram package of apple pectin, you will find more than 160 calories, as well as notable levels of iron and copper. [2]
Benefits of Apple Pectin
The major benefits of apple pectin include boosting digestion, improving brain health, and skin care, among others.
Apple contains pectin that is used to thicken jams and preserves. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Digestion
When pectin enters the body, it pulls liquid from the digestive tract to form a gel-like substance, which can prevent symptoms of diarrhea and encourage feelings of fullness, which can aid in weight loss. [3]
Anticancer Potential
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes the anticancer, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic effects of pectin. It has also been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. A 2016 animal study published in the journal Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy also acknowledges its ability to apoptosis, which led to the prevention of metastasis in breast cancer cell lines as well as primary tumors. [4] [5]
Cardiovascular Issues
Pectin is known to prevent the absorption of excess cholesterol in the stomach, which can lower overall cholesterol levels and prevent atherosclerosis, as well as lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. [6]
Skin Health
Some people choose to apply apple pectin powder to their skin to reduce inflammation, although these uses aren’t backed by significant research.
Sore Throat
Soluble fiber like pectin can form a coating and a barrier in the throat, which can soothe inflammation and sore throats.
