As antioxidants, polyphenols in apple cider can help fight free radicals in the body, reducing the likelihood of oxidative stress and cell damage. These polyphenols also help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Cider, like red wine, contains quite a lot of antioxidants due to the superfood qualities provided by apple. A popular word that is used quite often in the health world and, rightly so, antioxidants are compounds found in fresh foods and vegetables that help slow down free radicals in the body and cause negative health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, and aging.
In fact, cider contains more antioxidants than green tea and, when consumed in moderation, can deliver positive results beyond a buzz. According to Cider Craft Magazine, there are three health benefits that come from drinking hard cider: antioxidants, vitamin C and gluten-free. WebMD suggests that apple cider specifically contains polyphenols, which act as antioxidants. What does this mean for you? Our source explains that the polyphenols in apple cider can help the body fight free radicals and cell damage, reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Polyphenols also help relieve inflammation in the body. Hard cider is made from pure apple juice, so it offers the same health benefits as juice. Hard cider, like unfermented juice, contains a lot of vitamin C and a considerable amount of antioxidants. In fact, there are more antioxidants in hard cider than in green or black tea or in vegetables such as tomatoes.
Traditional hard cider does not contain gluten. These benefits sound good, but enjoy them in moderation, as hard cider tends to be high in calories. An obvious point, since cider does not include gluten (simply apples, yeast, sometimes sugar and additives such as hops, berries or coffee beans), but those sensitive to gluten or simply not big fans find cider to be a perfect substitute for those beverages like beer. One reason for the addition is that bitter flavors help balance the sweetness of hard cider, producing a more mature and aromatic finish.
As immigrants from other parts of Europe came to the United States with their own drinking traditions, such as Germans with their lagers and Spaniards and Italians with their wine, the popularity of hard cider declined. From a purely health standpoint, ciders seem to have a lot more going for them, but let's be honest, you're not going to drink ciders (or beers) because they're healthy. They share the myriad benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, but a touch of antioxidants gives cider an extra effervescence when it comes to health. Apple cider vinegar is still a trend we're here for, but it's different from its juicier counterparts.
Cider is also rich in nutrients, as it contains pectin, B vitamins, biotin, folic acid and, unlike beer, vitamin C. The acid in cider promotes iron absorption, which is important because iron is a key part of hemoglobin, which feeds muscles with oxygen during exercise. In addition to the benefits found in beer, scientists have found as many antioxidants, which help fight dementia, in cider as in red wine, only at a much lower alcohol level. So if you drink commercial beverages, say a Magners or Kopparberg, the difference increases the amount of carbohydrates in the ciders.
As a result, it usually has fewer carbohydrates than cider, which makes it a little “healthier”, even though the number of calories remains approximately the same. While cider and beer aren't the first thing that comes to mind when someone talks about healthy drinks, some research indicates that drinking the right types of cider and beer does minimize the impacts of alcohol on the body. So the next time you're looking for a cold and refreshing alcoholic beverage, consider opting for a glass of tannin-rich hard cider and enjoy it with your friends. In addition to satisfying thirsty needs, cider also offers several health benefits that make it more than just a tasty drink.
So the next time you enjoy a drink with your friends, consider drinking literally in season and opting for a glass of cider rich in tannins. . .
