Apple Pectin Powder Organic

What is Apple Pectin?

Apple pectin is a complex carbohydrate (polysaccharide) found in the skin of a apple that helps maintain their structure. It’s a viscous soluble fibre with the ability to form a gel. Pectin is also found in pears, vegetables, legumes, and nuts.

Due to its gel-like consistency, pectin is a popular addition to foods as a thickening agent and a great source of fibre with many potential health benefits

1. Apple Pectin for Digestive Health

“Prebiotics” provide food for “probiotics”. Apple pectin is an excellent prebiotic that ferments in the intestines, to provide ‘food’ to many bacteria. The ingestion of apple pectin has been shown to increase the intestinal population of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroidetes, known to be commensal healthy bacteria, and more specifically the anti-inflammatory bacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. The prebiotic effect of dietary fibre increases the growth of specific bacteria that have important physiological and health benefits for the host (that’s you!).

Because apple pectin is high in fibre, it is used to:

• Alleviate inflammed colon (colitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other digestive problems
• Help regulate bowel movements and improve stool consistency
• Reduce intestinal inflammation due to diarrhoea
• May improve acid reflux.[ref]

2. Apple Pectin for Cardiovascular Health

Apple pectin inhibits the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, which helps lower cholesterol. This may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes.

3. Apple Pectin and Healthy Skin

Some people find that the topical application of a wet mix of apple pectin powder to problem skin helps relieve irritated skin, improving the appearance of red, inflammed skin. Improving your health from the inside (your digestion) also results in improved skin health.

4. Apple Pectin for Healthy Weight

Pectin is an indigestible fibre. This means it adds bulk to meals without adding calories. When consumed with water, pectin forms a gelatinous substance, increasing feelings of fullness and help you eat smaller meals.

5. Blood Sugar Regulation and Apple Pectin

As well as the benefits of lower food intake, apple pectin binds to carbohydrates and fats in your digestive system, slowing down how quickly they are absorbed. This helps keep blood sugar levels steady, preventing sharp increases after meals. For this reason, apple pectin is regarded as a good dietary supplement for people with diabetes.

6. Apple Pectin and Mood

In the large intestine, apple pectin is used by gut bacteria, producing butyrate. Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that has been shown to help stabilise mood.  People with low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) commonly experience depression and sleep problems. Butyrate can stimulate the release of BDNF in the brain, helping reduce stress, anxiousness, and improve low mood.

7. Apple Pectin May Improve Iron Absorption

Iron is an essential mineral, needed for making red blood cells and transportingoxygen throughout the body.  Anaemia is caused by iron deficiency, and leads to weakness, fatigue and learning problems. More than 30% of women globally who are of childbearing age are anaemic [WHO]

Menstruating women, vegans and vegetarians are at a particularly high risk of iron deficiency. Menstruation can trigger iron loss, while iron found in plant-based diets isn’t absorbed as well as iron from animal foods. There is some research showing that apple pectin may help increase iron uptake – exactly how is not yet understood.

8. Cancer and Apple Pectin

Several studies have reported that apple pectin may be useful to help fight cancer in many ways [ref]. A research team at the University of Georgia discovered that pectin could kill up to 40 percent of prostate cancer cells when exposed to them [ref]. Another study found that pectin may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of colon cancer.

How it works: Galectin 3 is a key component in the spread of cancer because it enables cancer cells to separate from tumours and reassociate in other places. A component of pectin links to this tumour-causing protein, blocking it’s action. This may help stop cancer from spreading. [ref]

9. Apple Pectin and Immune Health

Specific pectin structures can influence the gastrointestinal immune barrier by directly interacting with immune cells or by impacting the gut bacteria, increasing butyrate and reducing inflammation in the intestines.

Suggested Use

Adults: Take 1/4 tsp daily. Slowly build up to a maximum of 1 tblsp twice daily
Children 2 years and above. Take 1/4 tsp daily. Up to 3 tsp daily as directed.
Can be taken mixed with water or juice, or mixed with food.

Caution

Not to be used in children under 2 years of age without guidance from your Health Care Practitioner
If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.

Keep cool and dry
Keep all therapeutic substances out of the reach of children