The more pulp your apple juice contains, the more heart-healthy punch it may deliver.

Apple juice that is cloudy, which means it has plenty of pulp, is four times better than clear juice at helping your body battle heart disease and other conditions, Polish scientists said.

The cloudiness is due to the drink's polyphenols, which are antioxidants that may help your body fight off cell damage, cutting your risk of heart disease, cancer and other maladies.

With so many apple-juice products out there, researchers at Poland's Agricultural University of Wroclaw decided to find out how much polyphenols finally make it into the apple juice that winds up on grocery shelves.

Stripping out the good stuff

After looking at four different types of apple juice, they discovered the manufacturing process of treating and turning apples into clear juice actually strips out the polyphenols. However, the scientists studied only apple juices and wonder whether the same results would hold for other types of fruit juices, said Dr. Jan Oszmianski, the lead researcher.

Last year, a study found that drinking fruit and vegetable juices more than three times a week can dramatically cut the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. Canadian researchers have also suggested that a glass of cranberry juice a day could help stave off heart attacks by raising "good" cholesterol 8 percent, according to the London Daily Mail.

Lucy Ede, a manager at the juice company Innocent, said she was excited by the findings.

"Cloudy juices taste better and have amazing body, which is important for us," she said. "But the fact that cloudy juices have more health benefits is extra exciting and definitely encourages us to use them."

However, clear juice far outsells cloudy juice because of the perception by consumers that is purer. Retailers also tend to favor clear juice because it has a longer shelf life than cloudy juice.

But Oszminanski said that while cloudy apple juice is healthier, eating whole apples is the best way to get all the disease-fighting benefits.

"It is better to eat whole apples with skins than drink the juice to get the most antioxidants," Oszminanski said.

For more information

•  Apple Products Research & Education Council

•  Apple Juice Associated with Brain Health

•  An Apple a Day

This article includes information from Reuters.

Source: Society of Chemical Industry
Reference: Chemistry & Industry, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

This summary by Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., is a snapshot of larger, more detailed studies and/or research projects. Nubella News encourages all site visitors and readers interested in understanding the material contained within this article at a more detailed level, to perform additional research and investigation into the article topics, references, and any links provided within the material. Nubella News does not intend to offer medical advice. We recommend that all readers ask their doctor or medical professional for additional advice, guidance, and/or recommendations pertaining to this article.