Applesauce is considered an inexpensive sauce made of apples. It can be made with peeled or unpeeled apples and may be sweetened or spiced. Applesauce is made from a wide range of apple varieties depending on tartness or sweetness. Here Cecilia Snyder, MS, RD, HealthLine.com, reflects on whether applesauce is healthy and nutritious, medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, RD, CDE:

“People have been making applesauce for hundreds of years. Cooked apples form a soft purée that may be sweet, tart, or savory, depending on the type of apples and whether any spices have been added.

You can eat this fruity sauce in many ways. You can eat it by itself or alongside meats and vegetables, or use it in smoothies, baked goods, or salad dressing.

Whole apples have many known health benefits, so you might wonder whether applesauce has the same benefits.

This article is a guide to applesauce nutrition and the health benefits it may offer.

Applesauce nutrition

Similarly to whole apples, plain applesauce is low in calories, fat, and salt.

It contains some carbs and natural sugar, as well as small amounts of vitamins and minerals, including copper, B vitamins, and vitamins C and E.

However, its content of other nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, depends on a few key factors (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3, 4Trusted Source).

These include:

• the variety of apples used
• how the apples were processed
• the cooking temperature
• whether the peel was included in the sauce

Furthermore, the amount of sugar can vary if the cook or manufacturer has added other ingredients to the applesauce.

On average, a 1/2-cup (122-gram) serving of unsweetened applesauce contains (5Trusted Source):

• Calories: 51
• Protein: 0.2 grams
• Fat: 0.1 grams
• Carbs: 13.7 grams
• Fiber: 1.3 grams
• Sugar: 11.5 grams
• Sodium: less than 1% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Copper: 4% of the DV
• Iron: 2% of the DV
• Folate: 1% of the DV
• Potassium: 2% of the DV
• Magnesium: 1% of the DV
• Thiamine: 3% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 2% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 2% of the DV
• Vitamin C: 1% of the DV
• Vitamin E: 1% of the DV

Factors that affect nutrition

The amount of fiber in applesauce may vary depending on whether the apple peels were left on.

Apples also contain antioxidants. However, levels of these antioxidants differ by the variety of apples.

Applesauce made with peels may be higher in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-applesauce-good-for-you#nutrition