Heart and brain protector: Malt juice has 'miraculous' benefits, but when and how much should it be consumed?

 Heart and brain protector: Malt juice has 'miraculous' benefits, but when and how much should it be consumed?

 

The season of Malta and Quinoa is at its peak in Pakistan these days and many people prefer to drink fresh Malta juice during winters. The habit of drinking Malta juice can have a significant impact on your health.

Many people like to drink fresh Malta juice at breakfast, but this drink has also been criticized for some time now. Experts warn that although Malta is rich in vitamins, consuming it in the form of juice causes a sudden increase in blood sugar and over time, this daily excess of sugar can cause insulin resistance, which increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

However, new research shows that despite the high sugar content in Malta juice, consuming a glass of it daily can also provide several medical benefits.

Misconceptions about citrus juice

Long-term studies, which tracked thousands of people for years, show that people who eat the most citrus fruits (sour fruits such as limes, quinoa) have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. But most of these studies asked people about eating the fruit, not drinking the juice. Experts say that eating the whole fruit with your teeth and drinking its juice can have completely different effects on the body.

“If you eat two or three pieces of fruit, which is the same as a small glass of juice, it will take time to eat and chew them,” says Federico Amati, a nutritionist at Imperial College London. “Most people may not like to eat two or three pieces of fruit, but they will finish a small glass of juice in a few seconds,” he adds.

Any fruit in its whole form is rich in fiber, which provides food for the beneficial bacteria in the gut and reduces the risk of heart disease and colon cancer. Fiber also slows down the flow of sugar into the blood. But on the contrary, crushing and grinding any fruit in the juicing process removes most of the fiber.

So eating and chewing a whole piece of fruit causes a gradual increase in blood sugar levels, while drinking fruit juice causes this increase more quickly. According to Amati, “The sugar in the juice is separated from its fiber capsules and is absorbed very quickly in the mouth and stomach, causing a rapid increase in blood sugar.” For most people, this increase in blood sugar levels is not a problem because insulin quickly removes the sugar from the blood. However, for diabetics, a glass of malt juice can be harmful.

Antioxidant Foliar

The molecules behind the protective effects of malt on heart and brain health, according to experts, are called flavonoids. These are compounds found in plants that give fruits and vegetables their bright colors and protect them from infection. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties, meaning they can neutralize ‘free radicals’, dangerous chemicals that accelerate the aging process in the human body by damaging cells. Flavonoids are also known for their anti-inflammatory (inflammation-reducing) properties.

“Inflammation is an important part of the immune system, but when it becomes excessive or persistent and not reduced, it damages the body’s tissues,” says nutrition scientist Amati. If there are compounds in the body that can reduce inflammation, it’s like having a fire hydrant available to put out a fire.’

One particular compound that has been studied extensively is hesperidin, which is found in citrus fruits. It is believed that the ability of grapefruit juice to affect blood pressure is linked to this compound. For example, a 2025 study found that grapefruit juice and hesperidin can activate genes in the body that reduce inflammation and help blood vessels relax.

 

In this study, 85 adults were given 500 ml of pure pasteurized grapefruit juice daily for two months. After 60 days, blood tests showed that genes that increase inflammation and blood pressure were less active.

Flavonoids, especially hesperidin, are thought to help relax blood vessels because they increase nitric oxide levels in the inner layer (endothelium). According to Amati, “The job of the endothelium is to tighten the blood vessels if you need to increase blood pressure, for example, to run. But it also has to have the ability to relax, otherwise the constantly tight vessels will put pressure on the heart and lungs. So the endothelium has to be able to contract and relax as needed.”

Improved blood circulation in the body may also explain the brain benefits of maltose juice. Research suggests that Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia may be caused in part by changes in blood flow to the brain.

According to Lamport, there is strong evidence that flavonoids can improve mental capacity and mood in general. Other foods that are rich in flavonoids include blueberries, tea, grapes, wine and dark chocolate.

Which grapefruit juice is better?

Both nutritionists who spoke to the  stressed that eating the whole fruit with your teeth is the best and healthiest choice. Grapes not only provide more fiber, but they also contain more flavonoids, which are extremely beneficial for health. Flavonoids are actually part of the larger class of polyphenols, which are compounds found in plants.

“When you eat fresh grapefruit, vitamin C and other nutrients that are affected by oxygen (such as flavonoids) are not oxidized as much because they are protected within the fiber,” says Amati. But when you make malt juice, you break down the structure of the food and expose these ingredients to air, which oxidizes and loses their effectiveness.

Since fiber is difficult to digest, it helps transport polyphenols and flavonoids to the colon, where beneficial bacteria use them and enhance their effects.

Although whole fruit is more beneficial, if juice is your preference, freshly squeezed malt juice at home or in a restaurant will be healthier, as it retains some of the fiber. In contrast, industrially produced malt juice is pasteurized and heated, which can destroy nutrients that are affected by oxygen, such as vitamin C.

However, those who enjoy cold malt juice for breakfast need not worry.

“In everyday life, I would say that if you drink a small glass of malt juice three or four times a week, as long as it’s 100 percent pure malt juice and there’s no added sugar or sweeteners, that’s perfectly fine,” says Amati.