Because applesauce is made from apples, you’ll get the health benefits of apples as well. According to a 2015 article in Nutrients, apples are rich in insoluble fiber like cellulose and hemicellulose and soluble fiber like pectin. Pectin helps improve digestion and the health of your gut bacteria. The polyphenols mostly found in the apple’s skin can reduce inflammation that’s linked to cardiovascular disease. Apple pectin and polyphenols work together to reduce cholesterol and chronic inflammation. Apples also have flavonoids like quercetin and epicatechin to improve vascular function and reduce blood pressure.
Store-bought applesauce can contain apples, water, and ascorbic acid, which is vitamin C, to act as a preservative. The added vitamin C helps your body heal, supports collagen production for healthy skin, fights free radicals, and assists iron absorption (per WebMD). According to Mount Sinai, vitamin C might weaken the progression of the hardening of arteries and mitigate damage caused by LDL cholesterol. Low vitamin C levels have been linked to heart attacks, strokes, or artery diseases.