Benefits of apple pectin (detox, weight loss, high fiber)

Nancy janssens
Sep 11
10 min read

Origin

Pectin is a substance found in the cell walls of most plants and is especially concentrated in the peel and flesh of citrus fruits (lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits), plums, and apples.

They can extract pectin from fruits and vegetables using an extraction method. This article lists various pectin sources and their extraction processes. You'll also find an explanation of the extraction process. See Table 1. See article

This article provides you with various extraction methods. See article

What is (apple) pectin

Pectin is a carbohydrate extracted from fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Apples, guavas, quinces, plums, oranges, other citrus fruits, and pears naturally contain large amounts of pectin, while soft fruits like cherries and strawberries contain small amounts.

Currently, citrus fruits and apple fruits are the main sources for commercial pectin extraction.

It's a naturally occurring polysaccharide (a type of carbohydrate) that contains a good amount of soluble fiber. Although pectin offers little nutritional value, this carbohydrate serves as a beneficial type of soluble fiber.

Recently, scientists have successfully used pH and temperature changes to break down the long, branched polysaccharide chains of pectin into shorter, unbranched pieces of soluble fiber molecules that dissolve easily in water. The result, modified citrus pectin (MCP), is a substance rich in galactose residues, easily processed by the digestive system and absorbed into the bloodstream.

When mixed with liquid, pectin forms a gel-like substance, similar to gelatin and oat bran.

What is the difference between pectin and gelatin?

Both form a gel-like substance when mixed with liquid. They are both widely used in foods, such as jams, spreads, and jellies.

The main difference between the two is that gelatin is found in animal parts. More specifically, it is derived from the partial hydrolysis of collagen.

Pectin, on the other hand, is found more in plants and fruits, so people on a vegan or vegetarian diet can eat pectin products.

See articles that confirm that pectin is present in plants and fruits

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

All Kinds of Use

The main uses of pectin are:

-Supplement

-Natural healthy laxative

-Gelling agent

-Thickener

-Stabilizer in food

Fiber: Pectin is a soluble dietary fiber and can be used to increase the fiber content of suitable foods and beverages. It is also an ideal healthy laxative because of its fiber content.

Culinary: Companies often use pectin in food as a gelling agent, especially in jams and jellies. It helps the fruit mass gel and achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.

It is also used for dessert (used to thicken water or milk based desserts)

Miscellaneous: It is also used in fillings, medicines, laxatives, throat lozenges, candies, fruit juices, milk drinks.

See article on various uses of pectin

Supplements use + dosage

It's primarily used as a powder and capsule. No standard dosage has been established.

Dosage of powder:

To use the powder, dissolve it in liquid and take it on an empty stomach .The most common dose is 5 to 15 grams per day for at least four weeks. Also, take a break after six months or a year.

--> A dose of 10-20 grams per day can help control diarrhea.

--> If you are taking regular medication, I would consult a naturopath.

because the fibers can interact with the medications.

--> NOTE: Drink plenty of pure water when taking a pectin cure.

--> You can mix the powder in your smoothies, water, herbal drink, protein shake

Dosage capsules:

Online, you'll mostly see two capsules per day of 700mg (=1400mg). But in principle, you can take more. Because if you're only allowed 5 to 15g per day with the powder, then 1400mg is nothing. Start with a low dose and build up.

If you're doing this to maintain a balanced gut flora, take 2 to 3 capsules a day. However, if you experience diarrhea or intestinal problems, I would immediately increase the dosage. The number of capsules depends on the pectin you'll be using it for.

But if you really have problems I would take the powder with plenty of water.

Discussion of benefits

1-High source of fiber

As soluble fiber, it works by binding to toxins in the digestive tract and promoting their elimination. Fiber naturally promotes the elimination of toxins from your gastrointestinal tract. Soluble fiber absorbs potentially harmful substances, such as excess estrogen and unhealthy fats, before they can be absorbed by the body.

Pectin can reduce hunger because of the fiber

In this study, she demonstrated that soluble dietary fiber accelerates colonic transit time and alleviates clinical symptoms in patients with slow constipation. Furthermore, supplemental fiber offers protective effects on the gut microbiome by increasing the population of healthy microflora. See article

You will find more research when discussing the other symptoms

2-Diarrhea (stomach and digestion)

Pectin is a soluble dietary fiber and is also an ideal healthy laxative because of its fiber content. Pectin increases the viscosity and bulk of stool. Therefore, it is often used for natural relief of constipation and diarrhea.

Therapeutic uses of Pectin is used as an effective remedy for constipation such as low intestinal motility , dry stools and painful defecation .

Pectin works effectively because it absorbs water molecules in the intestines; this occurs because hydrogen bonds and pectin swell in the intestines, leading to an increase in water content. See article

In this 2019 study, mice were given pectin from the plant Arctium lappa L. (burdock root). In the mice with constipation, ALP-2 was able to improve small intestinal motility and significantly increase stool weight. Pectin is a good treatment for constipation. See article .

Another 2001 study, conducted at the Center for Health and Population Research in Bangladesh, evaluated the beneficial intestinal effects of dietary fiber from green banana or pectin in children with persistent diarrhea.

In the study, 62 boys aged 5 to 12 months were randomly assigned to a rice-based diet containing boiled green banana, pectin, or just the rice diet. After seven days, stool weight and consistency, frequency of vomiting and purging, and duration of illness were measured.

By day three after treatment, significantly more children receiving pectin or bananas recovered from diarrhea than the control group, and by day four these percentages continued to rise.

The results indicate that green banana and pectin significantly reduce stool volume, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids, frequency of vomiting, and duration of diarrhea—and that pectin is an important step in stopping diarrhea. See article

Studies also show that pectin may help treat irritable bowel syndrome , which is mainly predominated by diarrhea.

See article

3-Prebiotic properties

The potential of pectins to beneficially modulate the gut microbiota depends on their structural properties. Furthermore, pectins can induce intestinal immunity, improve intestinal integrity and mucosal proliferation, and promote the adhesion of probiotic Lactobacillus strains to epithelial cells. See article

This 2022 study concludes that most pectin substrates can stimulate the growth of Bacteroides and Lachnospira genera, as well as species such as F. prausnitzii and L. eligens, and can increase SCFA production (particularly acetate). The structural characteristics of pectin substrates have been shown to influence their utilization by the gut microbiota. See article

Apple-derived pectin modulates the gut microbiota, improves intestinal barrier function, and attenuates metabolic endotoxemia in rats with diet-induced obesity. This study concluded that apple-derived pectin could modulate the gut microbiota. These results indicate that apple-derived pectin may play a protective role with prebiotic properties in preventing obesity and associated metabolic and inflammatory disorders. See article

Fermentation of pectin stimulated the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., and Faecalobacterium prausnitzii. There was a significant increase in short-chain fatty acids. See article

4-Detox heavy metals

Heavy metals are found in dental products, medications, vaccines, kitchenware, personal care products, chemtrails, building materials, etc. Heavy metals are highly neurotoxic and are also carcinogenic. Heavy metals do not belong in the human body. So, do a detox occasionally to remove heavy metals. It will always improve your health.

Pectin supplementation has been shown to increase the excretion of dangerous metals such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium, without removing essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc from the body .

A pilot study evaluating the chelating effects of pectin provided evidence that orally administered pectin significantly increases the urinary excretion of toxic metals.

The researchers reported that significant urinary excretion of arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and lead increased within one to six days of pectin treatment. There was a 150% increase in cadmium excretion and a 560% increase in lead excretion on day six. Essential minerals such as calcium, zinc, and magnesium did not increase in the urinalysis.

See Article 1

See Article 2

Another study showed that consuming pectin promoted the detoxification of heavy metals and other toxins that contribute to chronic diseases and disrupt the body's ability to recover from illness. See article

Because pectin's structure has a gelling mechanism, it can bind to heavy metals (including lead and mercury) as it moves through the gastrointestinal tract and eliminate them from the body in the stool. See article

5-Antioxidant

In this study, they clearly state in their conclusion that the pectins they tested on rats exhibited a noticeable radical-scavenging effect. Pectin demonstrated a remarkable protective effect against oxidative damage. It proved to have superior antioxidant and bile acid-binding capacity. See article .

Another study concluded that aqueous pectin extract had good antioxidant properties. Pectin extract can scavenge DPPH free radicals up to a concentration of 75 µg/ml. Furthermore, applying pectin to mozzarella cheese significantly extended its shelf life from 7 to 21 days at 5 degrees Celsius. See article.

6-Anti-cancer effects

Pectin has been known for its antitumor effects for decades. According to this article, there are several main reasons why pectin has anticancer effects.

1-Effect of pectin as a dietary fiber

2-Pectin from citrus fruits in particular has a pH modification involving alkaline treatment which causes β-elimination reactions,

3- immune boosting effects

See article

Convincing research shows that modified citrus pectin can help block the growth and spread of solid tumors such as breast, colon, and prostate cancer.

Modified citrus pectin exhibits unique properties in blocking the aggregation, adhesion, and metastasis of cancer cells. Clinical research shows that modified citrus pectin helps limit disease progression in men with advanced prostate cancer. See article .

In this study, they demonstrate that the cytotoxic effects of pectin have anticancer properties in various types of cancer. They show that pectin inhibits tumor growth and proliferation. MCPs inhibit almost all cancer cells by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway. See article .

7-Pectin has anti-inflammatory properties

You'll often read that pectin lowers cholesterol, but that's because in most cases it reduces the inflammatory response. Pectin can actually reduce inflammation. Why is this?

A high-fiber diet:

-Improves your intestinal flora

-Improves your immune system

-Lowers your weight

Fiber-rich foods also feed beneficial bacteria in the gut, which then release substances that help reduce inflammation levels throughout the body.

--> A high-fiber diet can therefore help reduce inflammation

By improving your gut flora, fiber automatically boosts your immune system. Seventy percent of your immune system is produced in your intestines. Therefore, gut health is crucial for preventing an immune response, as is promoting the right mix of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Anti-inflammatory nutrition focuses on three main ideas:

1- Keep blood sugar stable

Keep blood sugars stabilized to prevent the inflammatory response from increasing

2- Choose good healthy fats

Choosing anti-inflammatory fats like olive oil, avocados, and omega-3-rich seeds over more pro-inflammatory choices like vegetable oils and saturated fats

3-Anti-inflammatory phytochemicals

Eat more anti-inflammatory phytochemicals from whole plant foods. See the dietitian's blog.

The results of this study demonstrate that pectin may be an effective anti-inflammatory agent when administered orally. Pectin was found to inhibit both local and systemic inflammation.

See article

In this 2021 study, research showed that pectin had anti-inflammatory activity (in vivo and in vitro). See article

In this recent 2024 study, Dietary Fiber Pectin had potential anti-inflammatory benefits for premature and newborn infants.

See article

Another 2010 study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of pectins (and their galacturonan backbone). Galacturonan isolated from pectin, which is the main carbohydrate chain (backbone) of its macromolecule, exhibits a clear anti-inflammatory effect.

See article

8-Pectin is used in wound healing agents

In this study, they created a novel, simple pectin-honey hydrogel, and it improved wound healing in rats. Honey and pectin have wound-healing properties. Pectin can prevent excessive fluid accumulation at the wound site and, while keeping the wound moist, provide a certain moisture, which promotes collagen synthesis and cell differentiation. See article .

9-Pectin good for diabetics

Pectin is known to slow the activity of enzymes that break down starch and sugar. Its fiber content slows the absorption of carbohydrates and sugars. This helps prevent blood sugar spikes, which can cause glucose intolerance, weight gain, and diabetes.

A 1988 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition evaluated the effects of pectin intake on 12 non-insulin-dependent patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants were tested for gastric emptying, glucose tolerance, and hormone response after following a 2,400-calorie, low-fiber diet for two weeks, followed by four weeks of supplementation with 20 grams of apple pectin.

The results suggest that continued pectin intake delays gastric emptying and improves glucose tolerance, making it a viable natural aid for diabetes symptoms.

See article

10-Pectin good for weight loss

Helps with weight loss. Pectin is a water-soluble complex carbohydrate that serves as a fat-burning food. It also helps you feel fuller longer. That feeling of satiety means you'll eat less throughout the day.

A 2014 study conducted at Wageningen University & Research evaluated the effects of pectin supplements on 29 participants. The results suggest that gelled pectin, in particular, could reduce appetite, increase energy, and lower insulin response. See article

Another 1997 study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, tested the hypothesis that pectin increases satiety in 49 male and 25 female U.S. Army personnel within normal weight limits. On days one and two of the study, participants fasted overnight and then received orange juice, followed by ice cream four hours later.

Satiety was measured on a visual analog scale before and after orange juice, and again after ice cream. When orange pectin was added to the orange juice, participants felt more satisfied for up to four hours. They also reported feeling more satisfied for up to 60 minutes after a meal that included ice cream.

This suggests that pectin, in doses of just five grams mixed with orange juice, increases satiety and may aid in a rapid weight loss program by restricting food intake.

See article

We sell pure apple pectin in the Healthy World News webshop See webshop