Why are dried apples useful and harmful?

Apples are the most common fruit in Russia. The product is cheap, tasty and good for the body... Everything is known about fresh apples, but dried ones ... They are also abundant on store shelves. There are different flavors: with honey, in chocolate, dried and dried. This product is quite different from fresh apples. How to choose, how to store and properly eat dried apples?

What are the benefits of dried apples?

Dried apples are a very special product. Apples are primarily fiber, pectin, vitamin C, sugar. Apples form inside us a jelly-like mass called pectin, which mixes with water, thickens, and then concentrates and removes cholesterol, toxic substances and carcinogens from the body. This is the huge the benefits of dried apples for the body.

Dried apples improve digestion, because they contain much more fiber than fresh apples.

The increased potassium content of dried apples makes them an easy diuretic and helps to remove fluid from the body, so they are useful for preventing edema.

What is the harm of dried apples?

Vitamin C is destroyed. Drying is one of the best harvesting methods, because a dried apple not only preserves, but also increases the amount of many useful substances: pectin, minerals, some vitamins, but ... except for vitamin C. Unfortunately, this vitamin is destroyed during the drying process. And the higher the temperature, the more it will collapse.

But if you set the temperature during drying to no higher than 60, the process will last longer, but valuable vitamin C will be fully preserved.This condition can be taken into account at home. Unscrupulous manufacturers are likely to opt for ...

Lots of calories. In dried apples, the number of calories rises many times.

For comparison: in 100g of fresh apples - 55 kcal, in dried apples - 360 kcal
Definitely, dried apples are higher in calories than fresh ones. The fact is that moisture evaporates during drying, leaving one dry substance.

But everything will be all right, if you do not overuse and overeat - the golden rule of losing weight Compared to fresh apples, the dose should be reduced by 10 times. Then and harm from dried apples for the figure will not be.

How to choose healthy dried apples

The main thing is that the product does not contain mold, which happens if the storage conditions are violated.

On store shelves, you can often see delicious dried apples sprinkled with sugar, vanilla, and chocolate. This product is of a different nature. Bright, beautiful, white and not shriveled apples are always obtained from the application of chemicals. For their preparation, sulfur-containing acids are used, which are sprayed in chambers where apples are dried. As a result, the color becomes more beautiful than it actually is, the product is stored longer and does not undergo mold.

Real apples are wrinkled, unsightly and grayish. This means that the product was prepared naturally without chemical intervention. Properly dry apples in a special dryer with the supply of ordinary dry hot air with ventilation.

And so that the apples remain light, it is enough to dip them in a citric acid solution for 10 minutes before drying. Then the apples will not lose color during the drying process, but at the same time they will not undergo chemical processing.

How and where to properly store dried apples

Dried apples are ideally stored in a glass or ceramic jar with a tight-fitting lid in a dark place. Even all winter.

The benefits of compote and decoction of dried apples

We already know that some vitamins (for example, C) are destroyed during drying, while others, on the contrary, accumulate. Cooking compote is an additional destruction of vitamins, since this is a heat treatment. But there is a way out. All benefits of dried apple compote will persist if:

Put the apples in a thermos, cover with hot water, add a little honey, and leave for an hour under the lid. Thus, a wonderful and a healthy decoction of dried apples, because vitamin C will not "die".

Dried apple compote with cloves

Pour 2 liters of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. The water has boiled - add 100 g of sand or honey. Now put 1 tsp. citric acid, a few cloves. After 3 minutes, the compote is ready!

Drying is one of the simple, affordable and useful ways to prepare apples for future use. At the same time, you do not need to add any preservatives, sugar, or subject the product to heat treatment. In ripe and timely dried apples, vitamins are stored much more than in fresh fruit lying on a store shelf in winter. This useful product helps to preserve beauty and health, it will be useful for those who want to lose weight.

Content:

Useful properties of dried apple fruits

Dried fruits are available all year round. They will help to cope with a bad mood in winter and suppress the spring vitamin deficiency. The advantage of apples over other processed fruits is that they are cheap. The cost of this product is much lower than dried apricots, prunes, nuts. At the same time, there are no less important substances.

The main properties and benefits of dried apples:

The fiber contained in apples improves digestion, suppresses hunger, and helps remove heavy metals from the body. A cup of dried apples contains 1/3 of your daily fiber.
Dried fruits contain pectins, which help to remove bad cholesterol from the body, unclog blood vessels and prevent the formation of plaques that narrow the lumens.
Improves memory, stimulates brain activity. All this is due to the boron content in dried fruits.
Frequent consumption of a food rich in potassium and magnesium prevents the onset of heart disease. It has a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system, helps to get rid of stress, bad mood, raises vitality and improves overall well-being.
Vitamin C remains in the fruit even after drying. The product will help to resist colds, viruses, infections, strengthen the body's defenses, and increase its resistance to adverse factors.
Prevention of anemia. Apples contain iron, which is preserved when the product is dried. This trace element improves the quality of blood, helps to saturate cells with oxygen, and helps to normalize blood pressure.

All these properties are inherent in dried fruits made from natural, fresh fruits. The slices should be fleshy, ripe, fragrant. It is not worth harvesting imported fruits that have undergone transportation, have survived numerous treatments not only at the stage of growth, but also during storage.

Dried Apples Composition

The energy value of the finished product depends on the variety, degree of ripeness and the amount of sugar in fresh fruits. On average, the calorie content of dry apples is 253 kcal. This is five times more than fresh fruit. Of these, 236 kcal are carbohydrates (59 g), 9 kcal for proteins (2.2 g) and less than 1 kcal for fats (0.1 g).

Content of vitamins and minerals per 100 g of product

On average, 12% are sugars: sucrose, fructose and glucose. Apple phytoncides and tannins have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, inhibit the development of pathogenic microorganisms. Dry fruit peel contains flavanoids that neutralize the negative effects of free radicals. Organic acids (citric, tartaric, chlorogenic, malic) are about 2.3%. They help fight infections, maintain the acid-base balance in the body.

The benefits of dried apples for weight loss

The energy value of dried products is several times higher than that of fresh ones. Diet on dried apples is out of the question. Half a kilogram will easily cover the daily calorie content, but it will not satisfy hunger. Nevertheless, the use of the product has a positive effect on the body of a losing weight person and even helps to lose weight:

are a source of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances that are so necessary for a losing weight person;
a few slices of dry fruit will relieve the desire to eat candy, cake or other forbidden food, suppressing cravings for sweets;
help to diversify the menu, because boring oatmeal will become much tastier and healthier if you add a few dry slices;
it is a wonderful ingredient for compote, it allows you to prepare a delicious, sweet drink with a minimum calorie content and retaining all the benefits of the product;
unlike fresh fruit, processed wedges do not actively produce gas;
dried fruits are wonderfully combined with kefir during fasting days, it is only important to calculate the calorie content of the daily diet.

On a note: Dry apples can be used to make healthy sweets. To do this, the slices soaked in water are twisted through a meat grinder, honey, nuts, and other fruits are added. Balls are formed from the resulting mass, rolled in cocoa powder and cooled.

It is important to remember that when cooking dried apples, it is advisable not to boil: this is how many useful substances that they contain are destroyed. It is enough to soak dried fruits for half an hour in hot boiled water to soften them.

Video: Useful properties of dried apples

Dried apples in folk medicine

Fresh and dried apples are widely used in folk medicine to treat anemia, stool disorders, heartburn, atherosclerosis and other diseases. Decoctions, water infusions, vitamin masses are prepared from the product, they are used alone or in combination with medicinal herbs, honey, nuts, and other dried fruits.

The benefits of dried apples are due to the balanced set of valuable substances. The product is not a panacea for all diseases; any treatment should be approached comprehensively and after consultation with a specialist.

Harvesting apples at home

You can use an oven or electric dryer to dry the fruit. The fruits are washed, wiped, cut into neat slices. It is very important to keep the pieces of the same thickness so that they lose moisture evenly. In the oven, dried slices are cooked at temperatures up to 65 ° C. The process takes 5 to 8 hours. Periodically, the oven door must be opened so that the evaporating moisture escapes. In an electric dryer, apples are cooked from 5 to 12 hours, depending on the parameters of the device.

How to store dried apples

Food moth is the main pest of dried apples. Also, mold and musty odor may appear on the product. To protect the workpiece from all these troubles, you need to take a number of simple measures:

Dryness. The product must be prepared with high quality. If the apples are damp, sticky, they won't sit for more than two weeks.
Tightness. The container must be tightly closed so that insects do not get into it. It is undesirable to use plastic bags for storage; it is better to give preference to glass jars.
Ventilation. It is recommended to ventilate dried apples periodically. To do this, the product is poured into linen bags, suspended in the air.

Cunning. Citrus peels, bay leaves, oregano, or lavender can be used to protect dried apples from insects. Aromatic additions are placed near the product, but in no case are they added to it.

Contraindication to use

Despite all the benefits, not everyone is allowed to eat dried apples. The product is contraindicated for people with diabetes. Doctors recommend giving up appetizing slices during an exacerbation of gastric ulcer. It is worth using the product carefully for people with overweight problems. Never turn a treat into food during dieting or weight maintenance.

Dried apple is a healthy, affordable, tasty product. He should be present on the table of a person who monitors his health.

Apples are one of the healthiest foods around. The complex of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances improves health and helps the body fight diseases. However, after two months, local harvests begin to lose their beneficial properties. Many do not dare to purchase imported products, around which scandals concerning the safety of fruits periodically flare up. To preserve all the nutrients in apples and feed them to the body all year round, you can use a simple drying method. Dried apples, the benefits and harms of which have long been studied by nutritionists and doctors, are an excellent product for combating seasonal vitamin deficiency, diseases and bad mood.

Are Dried Apples Healthy?

During drying, apples lose liquid, and all nutrients remain intact. Moreover, all acids, minerals and vitamins can be stored in such a product until the next harvest. Dried apples contain the following substances:

Sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose) - they make up about 12% of the product. This amount of sugars helps to quickly saturate the body, restore strength after heavy physical or mental stress. But it is this component that confuses nutritionists who do not recommend getting carried away with dried apples during diets.
Organic acids - make up about 2.5%. The dryer contains malic, citric, arabic, tartaric, chlorogenic acids, which help maintain the acid-base balance in the body and fight infection.
Polysaccharide pectin substances necessary for the passage of metabolic and digestive processes, reducing cholesterol levels.
Tannins that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Minerals. Dried apples are a treasure trove of iron and magnesium, which are essential for improving blood quality and cardiovascular function. The iodine contained in drying helps to improve metabolism and support the activity of the hormonal system.
Flavanoids - found in the skins of dried apples. These substances resist cell damage by neutralizing the effects of free radicals.
Phytoncides, the purpose of which is to suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Dried apples for weight loss

All dried fruits are used during diets in limited quantities. The reason for this is the high calorie content of the dried product. For example, a fresh apple has a caloric content of about 40-50 units per 100 g of weight. Dried apples lose water, but the calorie content does not disappear anywhere. Therefore, the dry product turns out to be five times the calorie value of the fresh one. If the dried fruit is soaked before use, then its calorie content will decrease.

Those wishing to lose weight with a diet on dried apples will have to be patient. Such a diet involves the use of a complex dried fruits and nuts for 5 days. For one day, you need to take 200 g of dried fruits and the same amount of nuts. They are divided into 10 parts and consumed every hour. In addition, you need to drink plenty of water and green tea.

Dried apples can be used for weight loss purposes and in regular meals. You just need to replace one meal with them, preferably in the evening.

The harm of dried apples

A large amount of sugars makes dried apples not the best food for diabetics and. In addition, gastroenterologists do not recommend using this product during an exacerbation of gastric ulcer. Dried apples should be consumed in limited quantities during diets.

The benefits and harms of dried apples is a question that lovers of homemade preparations need to know the answer to. Dried fruits look perfectly safe, but you need to understand their properties in order to understand if this is actually the case.

Chemical composition and calorie content of dried apples

The benefits and harms of dried apples for the body are different from the beneficial properties and potential harm of fresh fruits. The fact is that the composition of dried fruits is slightly different - there are more elements in them, and some less.

Dried apples contain:

fiber;
antioxidants;
natural sugars;
vitamins A, K, H and PP;
B vitamins - there are more of them in dried fruits than in fresh ones;
vitamin C - its share is significantly reduced, but still it is present in dry slices;
potassium - there is a lot of it in dried fruits, thanks to which the product serves as an excellent diuretic;
copper and iron - their content is also increased;
magnesium, sodium and phosphorus;
manganese.

Dried fruits are rich in carbohydrates, occupying about 58 g, proteins and fats are present in them - about 2 g and 0.2 g, respectively. The calorie content of the product is high - since dried fruits are almost devoid of water, their nutritional value increases dramatically. 100 g of dried apples contain about 250 kcal.

Useful properties of dried apples

The benefits of dried apples for the human body are expressed in their beneficial effect on almost all systems and organs. It is worth taking a closer look at the positive health effects of the product.

For the heart and blood vessels

Dried apples are high in potassium and magnesium. These elements are especially important for the good functioning of the vascular and cardiac system. Regular consumption of dried fruits prevents the development of atherosclerosis, ischemia, protects against heart attacks and strokes, and normalizes the heart rate. Dried apples are also recommended for consumption after a heart attack, their properties allow you to quickly restore the body's strength.

For the stomach and intestines

The benefits of homemade dried apples for the intestinal and gastric system are undeniable. The product contains a lot of fiber and pectin, so it helps to regulate bowel movements and improve peristalsis. Valuable mineral components, thanks to dietary fiber, are better absorbed into the bloodstream and absorbed by the body. The properties of the product improve the intestinal microflora and eliminate congestion.

For immunity

Since all vitamins are stored in dried apples, and the volumes of some of them become even larger, dried fruits are very useful as a prevention of viruses and infections. They will be especially useful in winter and autumn, when many people begin to experience vitamin deficiency. If you use ordinary apple dried fruits, then you can do without expensive vitamin complexes - dried slices will eliminate the potential harm from changing climatic conditions without extra costs.

For skin and hair

Dried fruits are high in calcium and antioxidants. Therefore, the benefits of dried apples for the body of women are especially great - their use helps to strengthen hair, increase the volume of curls. Apples improve the condition of the skin and allow you to maintain youthfulness and attractiveness longer.

The beneficial properties of dried apples will not harm almost anyone, and yet it is especially important for some people to include this delicacy in their regular diet. Dried fruits are irreplaceable:

with a tendency to constipation, edema and rapid weight gain- the diuretic properties of dried fruits and their beneficial effect on peristalsis will help to quickly establish the metabolic system, and toxins will no longer accumulate in the body;
with high bad cholesterol- trace elements in the composition of dried fruits will help cleanse blood vessels, strengthen their walls and remove unnecessary stress from the liver and heart;
with articular diseases- dried fruits contain a lot of calcium, therefore they effectively strengthen bones, help relieve inflammation and pain in arthritis and osteochondrosis;
with weakened immunity- the properties of dried fruits will allow you to quickly restore the balance of nutrients in the body.

Important! You need to eat apple dried fruits regularly in old age or with intense exertion, both mental and physical.

Their beneficial properties improve memory and concentration, and have a rejuvenating effect on the body.

Is it possible to give dried apples to babies

Dried apple fruits are digested rather slowly. The stomach of a small child is not ready for such loads, therefore, it is not recommended to give dried apples to children. However, already from 6 months old, you can offer babies compote cooked from dried fruits in a volume of no more than 100 ml per day. After a year of life, the dosage can be gradually increased.

Attention! Since dried apples can be very harmful for certain diseases, you need to consult a pediatrician before offering dried fruit compote to a child for the first time.

Dried apples for pregnant and lactating women

For pregnant women, dried apple fruits are very useful. Their properties not only saturate the body with vitamins, but also help get rid of edema, which often occurs during the period of bearing a child. However, you should not forget about the calorie content of the product - the use of dried apples should be moderate.

During lactation, dried fruits will also not harm, their properties will be useful for both the mother and the newborn. But it is necessary to stick to small portions and monitor the child's reaction. If the baby has an allergy, the use of dried fruits will have to be stopped.

Are dried apples good for weight loss?

Despite the fact that the calorie content of dried fruits is increased, they will bring great benefits during the diet. The benefits and harms of dried apples for weight loss are that the delicacy significantly improves peristalsis and helps to remove accumulated toxins from the body in a few days. To make the effect of the diet more noticeable, you can not only introduce dried fruits into your regular diet, but also completely replace your evening dinner with them. In this case, in a month it will be possible to part with 3-4 extra pounds.

The properties of dried fruits are beneficial during a fasting day. During the day, it is necessary to eat exclusively dried apples and drink plenty of water, and the daily dose of apples should be no more than 200 g. If fasting days are carried out regularly, then the weight will be stably kept within the normal range. But in order not to harm the body, unloading should not be abused - useful fasting is shown no more often than once a week.

Are dried apples allowed for pancreatitis

In case of acute inflammation of the pancreas, any apples from the diet must be temporarily removed - this applies to both fresh fruits and dried fruits. But with chronic pancreatitis in a state of remission, dried apples are allowed for consumption. The main thing is not to eat them in too large quantities, otherwise the high fiber content will lead to the fact that the body will receive harm, not benefit.

The benefits and harms of dried apples for diabetes

Fiber and trace elements in dried fruits are of great benefit in diabetes mellitus. The properties of the product allow maintaining the correct metabolism and preventing the development of complications. At the same time, the glycemic index of apple drying is only about 25 units, depending on the variety, therefore, dried fruits do not lead to sharp jumps in blood glucose.

Drinks based on dried fruits will also bring benefits - compotes and decoctions. Of course, they must be cooked without adding sugar, otherwise all the beneficial properties will turn out to be harmful.

How many dried apples can you eat per day

The benefits and harms of apple drying depends on the amount of dried fruits consumed. It is recommended for a healthy person to eat only 4-6 pieces of delicacies per day, in such an amount, apples will improve health and will not cause harm.

Children and adolescents should be offered dried fruits in smaller quantities - only 3 pieces a day. And babies under 6 years old are allowed to use only 1 slice and no more than once every 2 days.

Healthy Dried Apple Recipes

Dried apple fruits are consumed not only in the form of soft slices. Healthy and quite tasty drinks are prepared from dried vitamin apples. They can be drunk for general health promotion, and sometimes home remedies can even help cope with the symptoms of certain ailments.

Dried apple compote

The simplest dried fruit drink is a regular compote. They do it like this:

100 g of dried apple slices are poured with a liter of water;
after the water boils, the apples are boiled for another quarter of an hour on low heat;
after the compote is ready, it is infused for 12 hours under a closed lid at room temperature.

Warm or cold compote can be drunk by the whole family, it is allowed even for the diet of young children. The benefits and harms of dried apple compote is that it strengthens the immune system and helps to improve digestion. Regular consumption of compote relieves the problem of constipation, the work of the heart and nervous system also improves, the level of blood pressure normalizes.

It must be remembered that the properties of compote are capable of causing harm. It is better not to use it for gastritis, peptic ulcer and pancreatitis, at least in a state of exacerbation.

Dried apple decoction

Another useful remedy with healing properties is strong apple broth. Prepare it as follows:

about 200 g of dried apple slices are poured into 1.5 liters of water;
after boiling, the compote is boiled for 40 minutes;
the finished drink is cooled, then filtered.

To increase the benefits, you can add a large spoonful of honey and lemon juice to the broth, they will make up for the lack of vitamin C in the drink. Drinking the broth is very useful for colds and in order to strengthen the immune system. Also, the benefit of a decoction of dried apples is that the drink has strong tonic properties - you can even drink it instead of coffee, there will be more benefits, and the blood vessels and the heart will not receive an excessive load.

Dried apple infusion

A useful and quick-to-prepare remedy is an infusion based on dried apple fruits. In order to prepare it, you must:

take a few dried apple slices;
pour them with a glass of boiling water;
add a lemon slice and half a teaspoon of honey to the drink;
insist the product under the lid for a quarter of an hour.

Since during the preparation of the drink, dried fruits are not exposed to prolonged temperature exposure, the benefits of infusion from dried apples remain even higher than the beneficial properties of compotes and decoctions. The infusion helps very well with colds, drinking it is useful for prophylaxis in the cold season.

There will be no harm from the drink with a deficiency of vitamins and microelements in the body, the infusion will allow you to quickly replenish the supply of necessary substances. The remedy will help with constipation and sluggish digestion, improve the condition of blood vessels and strengthen the heart system.

Important! The infusion quickly loses its benefits and medicinal properties, therefore, it cannot be stored for a long time even in the refrigerator.

It is better to prepare a new drink every day, it takes very little time.

What varieties of apples are best used for drying

The benefits and harms of sun-dried apples are approximately the same for fruits of any variety. Nevertheless, there are recommendations as to which fruits are best to choose for creating blanks:

All the benefits of dried fruits are concentrated in their pulp, therefore, for drying, it is better to choose varieties with small seed boxes and thin peel.
Since the apple slices are greatly reduced in size during the drying process, you need to choose medium or large fruits. Sun-dried slices from small apples will turn out to be too small; it will take too many fresh fruits to prepare a small portion of a treat.
When dried, the fruits of sweet varieties become almost tasteless. Although their beneficial properties are preserved, it is no longer possible to call such dried fruits a delicacy. But sour apples, when dried, acquire a very pleasant and distinct taste, therefore, it is better to use them to create blanks.

Fresh apples of varieties Antonovka, Titovka, Pepin, Aport, Cinnamon and White Naliv are ideal for drying. They meet all the basic requirements, and their blanks are juicy, aromatic and very useful.

How to properly dry apples at home

You can buy sun-dried apples in markets or shops. However, it is much more convenient and practical to dry fruits at home on your own - it does not require much effort and does not take much time. There are several ways to dry fresh apple fruits.

Drying apples in the sun

If in winter you have to use household appliances to dry fruits, then in summer it is easiest to dry apples in the hot sun. To do this, they must be laid out on a grid or perforated pallet in a thin layer so that the slices do not overlap. From above, the apples are covered with gauze so that insects do not sit on the slices.

On average, the drying process in clear hot weather takes about 4 days if the apples are in the sun. In the shade, the fruit will take a little longer to dry. The slices must be turned over daily so that they wither evenly on all sides.

Advice! Drying apples in the sun is especially recommended when it is necessary to preserve maximum vitamin C in dried fruits.

The useful substance is destroyed at high temperatures, and in the process of natural drying, quite a lot of it remains, although less than in fresh fruits.

Drying apples in the oven

If the weather outside the window no longer allows drying in the open air, or for some reason you want to cook dried fruits faster, you can use a gas or electric oven.

Fresh apples are cut into small thin slices and laid out on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper in one layer.
The baking sheet is placed in the oven, preheated to 80 ° C, and left for half an hour.
After this time, the temperature should be reduced to only 70 ° C and the apples should be kept in the oven for another 5 hours.

After the bulk of the moisture from the slices has evaporated, they will need to be turned over to the other side on a baking sheet and the temperature inside the oven should be reduced by another 20 ° C. At a temperature of 50 ° C, the apples are left to dry in the oven for the next 4 hours, turning them over from time to time.

Drying apples in the microwave

Microwaving apple slices has its own advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages of this method include the fact that fruits will have to be dried in small portions - a large baking sheet with apples simply will not fit in the microwave. But on the other hand, the process of preparing a portion takes only about 5 minutes, which means that in the end you can cook quite a lot of dried fruits in a couple of hours.

Drying is done as follows:

thinly sliced fresh apples are laid out on a plate and placed in the microwave;
the kitchen appliance is turned on for 30 seconds, and then the plate is taken out and the slices are turned over, assessing the degree of their readiness.

Several drying cycles are required for just one serving.

Drying apples in the microwave is especially convenient when there is no oven or when it is not possible to keep the oven on for about 10 hours in a row.

Apples in an electric dryer

It is most convenient to dry apples in a special electrical appliance - a dryer designed specifically for preparing dried fruits. By default, the dryer is equipped with convenient perforated trays for slices, the user has the opportunity to set the desired temperature, depending on how quickly the sun-dried apples need to be cooked.

According to the classic recipe, the apple slices on pallets must be spread out in a thin layer and the drying temperature must be set to 60-75 ° C. In this mode, the fruit is dried for about 8 hours; in the process, completely dried slices can be removed and new ones can be placed in the vacant space.

If you put the appliance at a temperature of about 100 ° C, then the apples will dry faster. However, much less vitamins will remain in them, since nutrients are destroyed at extremely high temperatures.

How many dryers are obtained from a kilogram of fresh apples

When creating blanks, it must be borne in mind that the total mass of dried fruits will differ greatly from the mass of the feedstock. During the drying process, all the moisture leaves the apples, and they lose up to 90% of their mass, respectively, only 100 g of drying can be obtained from a kilogram of raw materials.

The harm of dried apples and contraindications to use

The healing properties and contraindications of dried apples are not the same for all people. Sometimes healthy dried fruits can be harmful to the body. It is not recommended to use them when:

pancreatitis in the acute stage - to replenish the supply of vitamins, it is better to drink compote from dried apples, since it acts on the pancreas much softer;
exacerbation of an ulcer or gastritis with high acidity - dried fruits will irritate the mucous membranes and will mainly harm;
allergies - if there is an individual intolerance to apples, then in dried form they will be no less dangerous than fresh.

It is also necessary to use dried apple fruits with caution in case of diabetes. In small quantities, apple slices can be left in the diet. But from abuse of the product, there will only be harm, since the content of sucrose in the apple dryer is increased.

How to store dried apples

Qualitatively dried apple slices can retain their beneficial properties for up to 2 years. In this case, it is necessary to store them in clean glass jars or in linen bags in a dry place with good ventilation.

For a long time, dried fruits retain their beneficial properties when stored in the kitchen, in conditions of slightly high humidity. But the shelf life is shortened - drying can be eaten only throughout the year.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of dried apples are a matter of their competent use. If you do not eat dried fruits in the presence of contraindications and control portions, then there will only be health benefits from sun-dried apples. The product will strengthen the body's defenses and contribute to the good functioning of the metabolic system.

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Dried apples retain the entire composition of fresh fruits. Indeed, by eating a handful or two of dried apples, you will receive a daily portion of fruit, supply the body with fiber and trace elements.

Composition and calorie content of dried apples

Dried fruits are almost 10 times more nutritious.

The calorie content of dried apples is 200-265 kcal per 100 g.

Vitamins and minerals are preserved in the product almost in full. The exception is ascorbic acid, it is partially destroyed during drying and storage.

Table: composition 100 gr. product

Apples contain a lot of iron, so they are traditionally used to treat anemia. However, the iron from apples is practically not absorbed by the body. Only 1-8% of iron is absorbed from vegetables and fruits, while 15-22% from liver and red meat. People with doctors are advised to make up for the deficiency of a useful element by eating red meat, liver, rye bread and legumes.

The second misconception is that there are apples for the prevention of thyroid diseases. It is believed that these fruits, especially seeds, contain a lot of iodine. As you can see from the table, this is not so - there is no iodine in dried apples. There is little of it in fresh fruits - 2-3 times less than in cucumbers and potatoes, and 13 times less than in.

The benefits of dried apples are due to their high fiber and potassium content. Thanks to the elements, apples accelerate metabolism. Dried apples are used for weight loss.

Dried apples contain: vercetin, catechin and chlorogenic acids. They boost immunity, protect cells from free radical damage, and help the elderly stay healthy and happy. For the fruits to be of maximum benefit, they must be eaten with the peel.

With mental stress

The product is useful for pregnant women, hypertensive patients, elderly and obese people, those who experience emotional and mental overload. By including dried fruits in the daily diet, you can get rid of edema, improve digestion, improve mood and memory, and restore intellectual abilities.

For bowel problems

Dried apples contain fiber, which is needed for normal digestion. Most of the fiber is represented by natural enterosorbents, which improve bowel function in case of dysbiosis.

Dried apples:

At high pressure

Dried apples are high in potassium, so they have a mild diuretic effect, reducing swelling. They also reduce blood pressure.

With oncology of the gastrointestinal tract and irritable bowel syndrome

Dried apples stimulate the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Eating, prevents digestive problems. A medium-sized dried apple contains 13% of the daily intake of dietary fiber.

The product maintains stool regularity. It prevents constipation and diarrhea. With diarrhea, dried apples increase the volume of the stool, with constipation, they accumulate and retain fluid in the intestine, provoking a contraction of its walls.

With detoxification

Pectin removes the bile produced by the pancreas from the body. Bile collects toxins in the body. If it does not join the fiber, it will be partially absorbed in the intestines and returned back to the liver, while the toxins remain in the body.

In addition to bile, dried apples absorb substances harmful to health, especially alcohol decomposition products. The next day, after a plentiful feast, or you need to leisurely eat 200-300 gr. dried fruits with water. This will help you recover quickly. Pectins, like a sponge, absorb toxins in the intestines and gently bring them out.

With diabetes

Overweight people are prone to diabetes. Apples prevent obesity, so they are ideal for those who are afraid of the condition of the pancreas. Dried fruits improve metabolism. It is believed that people who eat 5 servings of fruit a day are less likely to develop diabetes.

Many people believe that if fruits are rich in sugar, they can cause diabetes. In fact, in addition to sugars, dried apples contain flavonoids. They regulate the production of enzymes on which metabolism depends. Eating dehydrated apples can help prevent diabetes.

With asthma

Doctors in Britain and Finland have found that apples relieve asthma and make the lungs less sensitive. Apples are more beneficial for asthma than other fruits. Scientists explain this by the content in the fruits of a special complex of useful compounds.

Harm and contraindications of dried apples

Dried apples cannot be harmful to health, even if the product is eaten in large quantities. The only harm from excessive consumption of dried apples is the negative effect on tooth enamel. The product contains many organic acids that can make teeth sensitive.

Apples in stores are often coated with a protective wax layer to keep them fresh. For those who consume dried fruits, it is important to find a manufacturer that produces organic products - dries fruits that are not treated with wax, preservatives and pesticides.

Which apple varieties lead to allergies and which do not?

Researches of scientists, carried out in the European Union in 2001-2009, showed that apple varieties have different allergenicities.

Allergenic apple varieties:

Granny Smith;
Golden Delicious.

The varieties Jamba, Gloster, Boskop proved to be hypoallergenic. In general, allergies to green apples are less common than allergies to red ones.

In addition to the variety, the allergic potential of dried apples is influenced by:

fruit collection time;
agricultural technology;
storage method.

Dried Apples Food Allergy Symptoms

sore throat;
swelling of the throat;
swelling of the lips;
the appearance of wounds in the corners of the mouth;
redness of minor areas of the skin;
blistering skin rashes.

Allergy symptoms appear 15 minutes after eating the product. Scientists have found that allergens are found mainly in the skin of the fruit.

How to choose dried apples

High quality dried apples meet the requirements of GOST 28502_90.

The product must be:

free of visible foreign matter;
no pronounced spots contrasting with the rest of the surface;
free of pests (living or dead), mold, rot;
with a dry surface, not stuck together;
without foreign smell and taste, a slight salty taste of sodium or potassium chloride is allowed;
flexible, not overdried.

Apples can be dried with rings, side cuts, wedges or whole fruits. The color is allowed from cream to brown. A pink tint is possible if this is a feature of the variety.

How much and how to store dried apples

According to the State Standard, naturally dried apples can be stored for no more than 12 months. After freeze-drying, when the product is cooked, the shelf life is 18-24 months.

Dried fruits are protected from spoilage by low moisture content. Bacteria can develop on a product if it contains 25-30% water, molds 10-15%. According to the standard, dried apples are dried to 20% and below, that is, to a level that prevents the development of microorganisms.

The product should be stored so that moisture does not rise in it. This is achieved by packaging in sealed containers (polyethylene, vacuum bags and vessels). The air humidity in the room where the apples are not hermetically stored should not exceed 75%.

The optimum air temperature during storage is 5-20 degrees. It is better to keep the temperature at the lower limit, since moths easily start in the warmth in dried fruits.

The presence or absence of sunlight does not affect the safety of the product.

Dried apples are an inexpensive and convenient substitute for fresh fruit out of season. They give the body energy, saturate with irreplaceable organic compounds, improve the digestive tract. The product is convenient to take with you on the road, making up for the lack of fresh apples in the diet. For variety, dried apples can be alternated or mixed with pears, apricots, plums, and other dried fruits.