Is It Bad to Drink Apple Juice Before Bed – Health Guide

June 3, 2022

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away and we all know how healthy a glass of fresh apple juice can be. But is it bad to drink apple juice before bedtime or will this drink keep you from falling asleep? Some say that it is a good nightcap while others believe that apple juice can cause nightmares or wild dreams.

In this guide, we are taking a closer look at the ingredients of healthy apple juice and we discuss the best time to have a glass of fresh apple juice so you can get the most benefits out of your juicing diet.

Table of Contents

What Does Apple Juice Contain?

The best way to determine how apple juice or other fruit juice types will affect your body and sleep patterns is by analyzing the ingredients found in these beverages.

Fruits offer the most benefits in the whole form because whole fruits are a great source of dietary fiber that can boost your digestive system. It is also believed that apples can assist with weight loss, improves heart health, and may even reduce the risk of diabetes.

But apples in juice form might not be quite that healthy. This is because most of the nutritional benefits in apples are found in the apple skin and pulp – two ingredients that are often removed and discarded during the juicing process. Apple juice also contains higher quantities of substances like sucrose or glucose which can cause an increase in your blood sugar levels.

Apple juice contains a lot of sugar. 100 Grams of apple juice contains about 10 grams of sugar and 46 calories. This essentially means that you will be consuming 30 grams of sugar for every glass of apple juice you consume. This amount of sugar and calories may be linked to weight gain instead of weight loss.

This type of fruit juice also contains lots of nutrients and is a good source of vitamin C. Each glass of apple juice contains about 30 milligrams of Vitamin C which can be very good for the skin and for burning body fat.

Additionally, apple juice is also high in potassium. A glass of apple juice contains about 300 mg of potassium. Potassium is a helpful aid for weight loss and can reduce your risk of becoming obese.

How Apple Juice Affects the Brain

Doctors often recommend eating plenty of apples because the fruit contains lots of antioxidants that can shield your brain from damage and reduces anxiety and restlessness.

Many also believe that apple juice can improve your memory and increases neurotransmitter acetylcholine – chemicals responsible for transmitting messages between brain cells. In theory, apples can slow down the effect of Alzheimer’s disease and can assist with clear thinking.

Apple juice also contains 88% water which is helpful for hydrating your body. This hydration is good for general brain functioning and for reducing headaches.

In addition to these effects, apple juice also contains lots of valuable nutrients and minerals that can boost your immune system so you can improve your overall health.

Potassium levels found in apple juice are also helpful for improving sleep quality and for calming your mind.

On the other hand, this fruit juice contains lots of sugar. When you consume a lot of sugar, your body converts the sugar into energy and has an awakening effect on the mind.

Is It Bad to Drink Apple Juice Before Bed?

Drinking apple juice right before bed is not the best idea. Sure, apple juice does have some ingredients like potassium that can be helpful for improving sleep patterns. But additional ingredients like sugar have an opposite effect and can actually keep you awake or may cause lucid dreaming.

Here are the main reasons to avoid apple juice right before bedtime.

Apple juice can spike energy levels

One glass of apple juice contains about 30 grams of sugar. When you take this sugar, your body converts the sugar into glucose and energy. This spike in energy levels can make people feel awake instead of sleepy. It also isn’t good for your body to increase glucose levels just before bedtime because your body won’t have time to burn that extra glucose and this sugar will eventually convert into stored fat or may cause imbalances in glucose levels which may have a terrible impact on those with diabetic disorders or insulin sensitivity.

Apple juice contains calories

Every glass of apple juice contains about 115 calories. This isn’t a lot but the calorie intake should still be kept in mind if you are obese. If you drink a glass of apple juice right before bed, your body won’t have time to burn the calories you consumed and all of those calories will end up as stored fat in your body.

Apple juice can cause wild dreams

A lot of people believe that apple juice before bed may induce weird dreams. The main reason so many believe this is because apple juice increases neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These chemicals play a huge role in your memory and may cause wakeful ness and can affect your REM deep sleep patterns. Boosting communication in your brain’s neurotransmitters just before you fall asleep increases your chances of dreaming and may result in vivid dreams or even nightmares.

Apple juice can cause teeth decay

The sugar and carbs in apple juice can also affect the health of your teeth. It is always best to brush your teeth right before hopping into bed and after eating and drinking and apple juice is no different.

The only time you should drink apple juice at night time is if you prefer to do your workouts at night. Drinking a glass of juice just before your evening workout will give you the needed energy to complete these workouts and your body will have enough time to burn the energy and calories the juicer contains before you hop into bed.

How Much Apple Juice Can You Drink Daily?

Too much apple juice can be harmful to your health because apple juice contains a lot of sugar and calories. A lot of people can also start to experience stomach pain, bloating, or diarrhea if they drink too much apple juice.

Here is a quick look at the recommended daily intake of apple juice people should generally stick to.

1 – 6 years of age – Only 4 – 6 Ounces of juice
7 – 18 years of age – 8 – 12 OUnces of juice per day
Adults – 4 – 8 Ounces of juice per day

The Best Time to Drink Apple Juice

It is always best to enjoy your daily glass of apple juice in the morning on an empty stomach. When you drink juice on an empty stomach, your body absorbs a lot more nutrients and your metabolism has time to digest all the nutrients you just consumed. Drinking apple juice first thing in the morning will also hydrate you and has an energizing effect so you can wake up quicker.

Ideally, you should drink this beverage an hour before breakfast. But if you missed your daily juice, you can still enjoy this beverage 20 – 30 minutes after eating.

100 Percent juice can also be a very good pre-workout drink for any good workout. This juice will give you a boost in energy so you can give it your all at the gym. Apple juice during workouts is great for burning belly fat since it contains plenty of Vitamin C.

It is also best to drink freshly squeezed apple juice. Commercial juices or store-bought apple juice often contain plenty of unhealthy additives that can affect your health negatively. Freshly extracted apple juice will last up to 24 hours in the fridge and is very easy to make if you have your own slow masticating juicer.

Best Drinks to Enjoy Before Bed

It isn’t good to drink sugary beverages like sugary fruit juices right before bedtime because these drinks can cause weight gain and can make it hard to fall asleep. It is better to save your apple juice for early mornings or for workouts. Instead of fresh juice, you can give the following healthy sleep-inducing beverages a try.

Cherry juice
Chamomile tea
Ashwagandha tea
Valerian tea
Peppermint tea
Warm milk
A glass of water

Final Thoughts

So is it bad to drink apple juice before bed at night? Yes, unless you are working out after consuming your glass of juice, it is not the best to drink apple juice at night. Apple juice has a wakeful effect on the mind and the sugar and calorie content of this beverage can make you gain weight if you drink it at night. It is best to enjoy fruit juices like apple juice early in the morning or just before workouts along with a balanced diet.

If you want to find out more about healthy fruit juices for bedtime or if you want to learn how to make your own apple juice or want to know more about the health benefits of juicing then you should have a look at some of our other guides. WIth JuicerzHub we offer the best juicing health tips and we review all the best juicing machines so you can get the right appliances for your juicing journey.