In your local grocery store, pear juice may not be the most preferred fruit juice you look for to give your body a nutritious boost, but it is surprisingly dense in nutrients and active ingredients that can have a significant impact on your health.
What is Pear Juice?
Pear juice, as the name implies, is derived from the pear plant, which can be a shrub or a tree and belongs to the Pyrus genus. Native to North Africa and parts of Europe, there are now hundreds of different cultivars of pears grown around the world, although not all of the fruits of these plants are edible. The most common pear variety in the European region is Pyrus communis, while China and other parts of Asia tend to favor Pyrus pyrifolia.
Pear juice is made by juicing the fruit and removing as much of the juice as possible, without mixing in the fibrous material. While this does make for a less filling treat, while still delivering a huge concentration of nutrients and antioxidants, you are losing out on the dietary fiber you would get by eating a full pear fruit. That being said, pear juice can provide 2-3 pears worth of vitamins and minerals in a single serving, so sacrificing fiber might not be a terrible idea. Pear juice is packed with vitamins, minerals, and powerful components including vitamin C, potassium, copper, vitamin K, various B vitamins, anthocyanins, flavonols, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and iron, as well as various other polyphenolic compounds and antioxidants. [1]
Pear juice can be added to mojitos for a healthy boost. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Serving Size : Nutrient Value Water [g] 86.47 Energy 50 Energy [kJ] 209 Protein [g] 0.34 Total lipid (fat) [g] 0.07 Ash [g] 0.19 Carbohydrate, by difference [g] 12.94 Fiber, total dietary [g] 1.6 Sugars, total including NLEA [g] 9.7 Sucrose [g] 0.6 Glucose (dextrose) [g] 3.3 Fructose [g] 5.8 Calcium, Ca [mg] 9 Iron, Fe [mg] 0.29 Magnesium, Mg [mg] 7 Phosphorus, P [mg] 12 Potassium, K [mg] 96 Sodium, Na [mg] 4 Zinc, Zn [mg] 0.09 Copper, Cu [mg] 0.05 Manganese, Mn [mg] 0.03 Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid [mg] 1.6 Thiamin [mg] 0.01 Riboflavin [mg] 0.01 Niacin [mg] 0.2 Pantothenic acid [mg] 0.02 Vitamin B-6 [mg] 0.01 Folate, total [µg] 1 Folate, food [µg] 1 Folate, DFE [µg] 1 Choline, total [mg] 3.4 Carotene, beta [µg] 3 Vitamin A, IU [IU] 6 Lutein + zeaxanthin [µg] 34 Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) [mg] 0.08 Vitamin K (phylloquinone) [µg] 0.3 Fatty acids, total saturated [g] 0 16:0 [g] 0 Fatty acids, total monounsaturated [g] 0.01 18:1 [g] 0.01 Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated [g] 0.02 18:2 [g] 0.02 Threonine [g] 0.01 Isoleucine [g] 0.01 Leucine [g] 0.02 Lysine [g] 0.01 Methionine [g] 0 Cystine [g] 0 Phenylalanine [g] 0.01 Tyrosine [g] 0 Valine [g] 0.01 Arginine [g] 0.01 Histidine [g] 0 Alanine [g] 0.01 Aspartic acid [g] 0.07 Glutamic acid [g] 0.03 Glycine [g] 0.01 Proline [g] 0.01 Serine [g] 0.01 Sources include : USDA [2]
Benefits of Pear Juice
The major benefits of pear juice include improving nutrient uptake, strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure, boosting circulation, increasing bone mineral density, supporting nervous system health, aiding cognition, and eliminating inflammation, among others.
Can Improve Heart Health
Significant potassium levels mean that this fruit juice can protect your heart health by lowering blood pressure. Hypertension affects tens of millions of people around the world, but the potential vasodilating quality of potassium relieves strain on the blood vessels and arteries, which can lower your risk of cardiovascular problems.
May Increase Circulation
A lack of iron in the body can cause weakness, cognitive slowness, fatigue, and stomach upset. These symptoms of anemia may be avoided with pear juice, considering it has a measurable level of iron that can help boost red blood cell production in the body. [3]
May Prevent Osteoporosis
Pear juice contains a number of different minerals including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron, all of which play a role in boosting bone mineral density in the body. Regular consumption of this mineral-rich juice can help you prevent the onset of osteoporosis and keep you strong as you age. [4]
May Regulate Nervous System
Copper is a mineral that is often overlooked by nutritionists but it is closely connected to nervous system function, which means that a steady stream of copper will help the communication network in your body work more efficiently. [5]
May Reduce Inflammation
In moderate amounts, pear juice can help reduce inflammation in the tissues, joints, and muscles. This juice is a popular drink for before as well as post their workout, as it helps to relax the muscles and promote repair. [6]
May Boost Immunity
Vitamin C is enough to stimulate the immune system, but with no less than a dozen different antioxidant compounds, pear juice may go far beyond that. Rich in flavonols, catechins, epicatechins, beta-carotene, quercetin, vitamin C, and various other active ingredients, the components of pear juice can quickly seek out and neutralize free radicals before they can cause mutation. This juice may be able to support the immune system by reducing stress and inflammation throughout the body and helping to prevent chronic disease. [7] [8]
May Promote Nutrient Intake
This fruit juice is known to cleanse the colon and reduce inflammation, while also improving the bacterial balance in the gut and eliminating symptoms of constipation, high acidity, bloating, or diarrhea. This may help your overall nutrient uptake efficiency over time. [9]
May Eliminate Bleeding Disorders
Vitamin K is another nutrient that is commonly ignored but it is an important clotting agent in the body. If you are deficient in vitamin K, which is found in pear juice, your body will struggle to heal its wounds, and you will be more at risk for bloody noses, hemorrhoids, heavy menstruation, or bleeding gums, among others. [10]
How to Make Pear Juice?
Pear juice is actually quite simple to make, requiring only a juicer or blender, a few pears, and other possible ingredients if you want to make your juice stand out a bit more. The taste of pears is quite mild, which makes it an ideal fruit juice to pair with other flavors including apples, oranges, celery, mint or lemon. So, let us take a look at the easy recipe below.
Refreshing Pear Juice Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 medium-sized pears
- 1 orange (if desired, for flavor)
- 1 lemon (if desired, for flavor)
- A pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- To make pear juice, wash, peel, and core the pears before cutting them into quarters. In a blender, cut the pieces even smaller.
- Add the pear to your blender, as well as any other ingredients (fruits, spices, etc.)
- Juice or blend the pear thoroughly for 2-3 minutes, waiting until it has an even consistency.
- Strain out the juice through a sieve or cheesecloth, leaving the fibrous material behind.
- Using a spoon, press the remaining juice out of the remains of the pear.
- Serve the pear juice chilled and enjoy! Avoid serving it later to as that could discolor the drink!
Pear Juice for Constipation
One of the most common uses of pear juice is in the treatment of constipation. It is important to note that juicing a pear does eliminate the majority of the dietary fiber in the fruit, which would normally help to stimulate digestion and relieve symptoms of constipation. However, pear juice also contains sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that is found in a few other fruit juices, such as apples, nectarines and plums.
Sorbitol is not broken down in the small intestine and causes water to be retained during the digestive process. This can loosen stool and lubricate the intestinal tracts, helping to stimulate peristaltic motion and relieve constipation. In large amounts or for people with sensitive stomachs/IBS, sorbitol can cause diarrhea and gastric distress but pear juice has been recommended for constipation for generations. [11]
Side Effects of Pear Juice
Most of the impact that pear juice has on the body is positive, but there are some potential side effects including diarrhea, bloating, cramping, gas, liver problems and certain inflammatory conditions, such as gout.
- Stomach Issues – A number of different components of pear juice can have a negative impact on digestive health if consumed in excess. Sorbitol has a laxative effect that can cause diarrhea and stomach discomfort, while the high concentration of natural sugars like fructose can cause bloating, cramping and excessive flatulence.
- Liver – Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects millions of people and an excessive amount of natural sugars, such as the fructose found in pear juice, can exacerbate the condition. If you drink this juice in normal amounts, it can actually help liver function but consuming it in moderation is the key.
- Gout – Some of the active ingredients in pear juice end up breaking down in the body and forming uric acid. While moderate amounts of this juice are normal and even offer some more benefits to the body, an excess of uric acid can increase your risk of kidney stones. If you have kidney issues or a history of kidney stones, speak with your doctor before making pear juice a part of your health regimen.
