Sip Northwest, Fall 2016
Inside Cider Theres a steady stream of studies that hype the health benefits of foodstuffs previously dubbed bad for you everything from chocolate to red wine But apples have always been high on the list of healthy foods so its a no brainer that hard cider also makes the cut in moderation of course As the old adage should say A cider a day keeps the doctor away 22 S I P N O R T H W E S T C O M INFUSED WITH BOTANICALS Cidermakers are now experimenting with the health boosting power of botanicals At WildCraft Cider Works in Eugene Oregon cidermaker Sean Kelly infuses his artisanal dry ciders with a variety of locally available botanicals everything from fireweed and Parrots Beak to yarrow Yarrow is one that is very beautiful medicinal and amazing says Kelly It increases circulation it helps balance blood flow And it actually can help the body assimilate alcohol Other botanical ciders on the market include Eaglemounts organic Ginger One Tree Hard Ciders Lemon Basil and Finnrivers Black Currant Lavender T R E N D S E T T E R S Liquid Assets BY TARA MORGAN Health Benefits of the Fermented Fruit LOADED WITH ANTIOXIDANTS Free radicals are naturally occurring chemicals that play a role in myriad cellular processes but at high concentrations they can do some seriously villainous things to cells Antioxidants are natures free radical slaying superheroes chemicals that socialize with and neutralize free radicals preventing them from causing damage And good news for cider lovers The beverage is loaded with antioxidants just as many as red wine according to Brewing Research International Plus another study by the University of Glasgow says traditional cider apples contain more antioxidants than normal dessert apples GLUTEN FREE While less than 1 percent of the population has been diagnosed with celiac disease around 30 percent say theyre trying to avoid gluten Thats why retail sales of gluten free foods in the United States reached 973 million in 2014 and are projected to skyrocket to over 2 billion in 2019 according to market research publisher Packaged Facts Cider unlike its frothy buddy beer is 100 percent gluten free Which is why those looking for a refreshing sudsy sipper sans gluten increasingly reach for an icy cider
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