AppleActiv, available in both powder and supplement forms, is claimed to support age-related conditions and can be blended with other ingredients to address such condition-specific health concerns as joint health, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, immune health, and healthy stress response.
“I take the holistic nutrition view, which is why should somebody wait until they have a symptom? If this product is good for you, and you know the reason you will end up with bad joints is because of a lack of these powerful flavonoids and pigments in your food, why not have them in your food to begin with?” Lorraine Leahy, registered holistic nutritionist and president of AppleActives, told FoodNavigator-USA.
An unpublished, 12-week pilot study on healthy people with moderate complaints of reduced joint range of motion and associated chronic discomfort found that they experienced improved range of motion, reduction in joint discomfort and improvement in serum antioxidant protective status after daily consumption of DAPP. Moreover, Health Canada recently validated that a serving of AppleActiv contains 50 percent of the daily recommended dose of fiber.
AppleActiv is produced in a GMP facility by Leahy Orchards, the parent company of AppleActives and largest producer of organic applesauce in North America, which sources organic apples from orchards throughout Quebec and Ontario Canada, and New York State. The peels are removed from the apples, then washed, sprayed and slowly dried in a low-heat dryer before getting ground into fine powder granules.
One serving of DAPP is equivalent to one medium-sized apple. The suggested serving is three capsules or one scoop of powder (the equivalent of one peel three times a day). The recommended dosage will range from 2 to 6 grams per serving The neutral-tasting powder is ideal for incorporating into smoothies.
“It’s not as fine as cornstarch, but it’s very fine,” Leahy said. “For that reason, it’s great for smoothies and blends in without any lumps. But it doesn’t mix well with liquids.”
The powder also a great fit for energy bars, but Leahy noted that it shouldn’t be incorporated into snacks that are baked above 170°F, because AppleActiv’s “polyphenols are sensitive to heat,” she said.
Although it's the only product of its kind on the market at the moment, AppleActiv is priced competitively within the middle range. Leahy said that AppleActives is coming out with an extract next year and also is in talks about formulating blends with other fruit products, such as blueberry and cranberry, to boost the product line.
“Frankly now I am concerned about whether we will have enough product,” Leahy said. “There’s a limit to how many organic peels I can get my hands on based on the fact that we have to have applesauce orders to get the peels.”
Above all, the goal is to gain exposure in the market while maintaining a presence in high-quality products, she noted. Currently, functional product manufacturer Greens Plus incorporates AppleActiv into most of its products, which include energy bars and powders.
“At some point I can actually see that we could saturate the market. I want to make sure that we’re positioned in the very top quality products. That’s where we are now, and we’re happy about that.”