What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Applesauce Regularly

2. Provides Antioxidants

Applesauce also contains high levels of antioxidants, depending on processing. In applesauce prepared from the whole apple, including the flesh and skin, flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids and tocopherols are all present.

Since many of the nutrients found in apples are found in the skin, varieties that use this whole apple approach tend to offer more health benefits.

The antioxidants in applesauce can help balance free radicals, which are unstable molecules in the body that can harm overall health.

3. Fiber and minerals promote good health

People who regularly consume applesauce tend to have a higher intake of dietary fiber, as well as nutrients such as magnesium and potassium. These specific nutrients are essential to an overall healthy diet because they can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, while supporting healthy digestion:

• Dietary fiber promotes healthy digestion. Apples contain both insoluble fiber and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber bulks up stools to help prevent constipation. Soluble fiber forms a gel and helps nourish beneficial microbes in the gut, as well as maintain stool consistency.
• Magnesium is vital for several processes in the body, including the regulation of protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood sugar, and blood pressure. When the body receives enough nutrients, these processes can function properly and eating applesauce contributes to dietary magnesium intake.
• Potassium plays a role in the proper functioning of all cells in the body and helps regulate nerve and muscle function, carbohydrate metabolism and heart rate. Since applesauce contains a good amount of potassium, consuming it can help a person get enough of their daily intake for these functions to function properly.

That said, although applesauce contains these nutrients, the amounts are generally low compared to recommended daily values. Therefore, applesauce should not serve as a sole source of magnesium, potassium, or any other nutrient, but rather as a supplemental low-calorie snack that complements a balanced diet.

5. As a snack, promotes healthier food choices

Research shows that when people eat applesauce as a snack, they also tend to make other, healthier food choices. For this reason, applesauce consumption is associated with a healthier diet and, therefore, better health outcomes through diet quality.

Things to watch out for

Although applesauce is a good snack choice, there are some things you should watch out for when choosing the right kind:

• Many varieties contain added sugars or flavorings to make them taste sweeter, but this increases their calorie and sugar content, which can hinder their beneficial effects.
• Although applesauce can support an overall healthy diet, it’s important to note that it should not replace whole fruits, which offer more nutritional benefits.