Fruit Concentrate: Its Health Benefits and Other Things That You Should Know
Introduction
Having a healthy diet and lifestyle is essential for your health and nutrition. This habit provides numerous benefits, such as helping you lose excess weight or maintain a desired weight, lowering your cholesterol levels, and preventing certain health conditions. The World Health Organization even stressed the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle by indicating the proper food intake per age group.
A 2020 study in China has also supported this, indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the respondents deeply feel the importance of good health. As a result, they adopted health behaviors to protect themselves from the virus and other diseases.
People have thought twice before consuming anything due to the variety of available health options. From salads up to steamed vegetables, there’s a wide range of choices.
One of these healthier choices is fruit concentrate. It’s a more potent fruit juice made by taking all the fruit flavor and removing the water from it
What is a Fruit Concentrate?
A fruit concentrate is a fruit juice that offers a wide range of health benefits and minerals. This juice is made by extracting the water from the fruit. Once the liquid has been removed, it results in a product with a thick, syrupy consistency.
Extracting the water helps reduce bacterial growth, making the fruit concentrate not spoil quickly as juice. In addition, it cuts the packaging, storage, and transportation costs.
Most of the fruit concentrates in the market are filtered, evaporated, and evaporated. However, the processing methods might still differ depending on the product. Some of them may also include additives for longer shelf life.
Aside from that, fruit concentrates are sold at room temperature or frozen. They must also be diluted in filtered water before consumption.
The Brief History of Fruit Concentrate
The Origin of Fruit Concentrate From Fruit Juices
The origin of fruit concentrate started with the process of juicing. During 150 B.C., it was common to mash pomegranate and figs for profound strength and subtle form. This was also revealed to be man’s first attempt in separating the vital juices from fruits and vegetables due to their healing benefits.
This method made way for herbalists and other health practitioners to grate or ground fresh herbs and soft fruits. After that, they press the juice from them. Dr. Max Gerson even put forth the concept of fruit concentrating as a diet during cancer therapy.
The Evolution of Fruit Concentrate Through Oranges (From World War II Until Present Time)
Fruit concentrate was widely patented in 1939. During World War II, there was an immense need for orange juices and other processed fruits with longer shelf life.
In 1943, The Florida Citrus Commission researched this concern, which led to the development of frozen concentrate. This patented technology was assigned to the United States to be available for the unrestricted use of the citrus industry.
In 1946, frozen fruit concentrate was highly advertised, according to the Museum of Florida History. It soon became a staple in many homes due to its cost-effective price and convenience factor. This made fruit concentrate a go-to juice drink for many people compared to freshly squeezed juice.
From 1946 until today, not much has changed in terms of the actual fruit concentrates. Its process of adding water at either a three-to-one or four-to-one ratio has remained constant throughout the years.
Fruit Concentrate vs. Fresh Juice vs. Pasteurized Juice
Fruit concentrate might share similar flavors with fresh juice and pasteurized juice. However, they differ significantly from one another because of their processing methods and nutritional facts.
Fruit Concentrate vs. Fresh Juice
In contrast with fresh juice, a fruit concentrate might have some added preservatives and food coloring. These components help increase the juice’s shelf life and improve the look and feel of the product.
Fresh juice, on the other hand, retains the water from the juice. It is made by extracting the liquid from the fruit and bottling it directly.
However, fruit concentrate has a longer life span than fresh juice. In addition, the juice flavor changes once it comes in contact with oxygen. This chemical reaction also makes them, especially citrus juices, to be more acidic.
Fruit Concentrate vs. Pasteurized Juice
Making a pasteurized juice involves the process of heating the liquid to kill germs. This process certainly makes the fresh juice lose its taste. This is why pasteurized juices have added food coloring and taste additives to make it as close as to the real juice. In addition, these make them share the same long shelf life as fruit concentrates.
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