Lifestyle Karma

When talking about dry fruits, raisins are inseparable from the list. They are prepared either by the natural process of drying the grapes under the sun or by mechanical process of drying them in ovens. Don’t just go by the looks, for they are often referred to as nature’s own candy! On the outside, they are nothing but dark and wrinkly elderly form of grapes, but on the inside they are full of bittersweet flavor with all the essential nutrients that will keep you going without much falter. These high on energy and low in fat raisins are eaten raw, as a snack, and are used in cooking, baking, and brewing as well. And because of their rich nutritional value, they are recommended by experts to be included in the regular dietary schedule. What nutritional value they hold and what are their health benefits; catch up on them in the section that follows. 

Nutritional Value in Raisins

Amount of Raisins: 1 cup
Total Weight of Raisins: 167 gm 

Health Benefits of Raisins

• Raisins, with their high content of glucose and fructose, are a good source of energy for athletes or body builders. Even those who want to put on weight without accumulating cholesterol in their system should include raisins in their regular diet.
• Raisins help maintain good dental health. The oleanolic acid, one of the phytochemicals present in raisins is known to protect your teeth against decay, cavities, and brittleness. Also, rich calcium content promotes dental health by strengthening the enamel.
• Raisins help in prevention and treatment of anemia that can lead to weakness, bruising, sensitivity to cold, difficulty concentrating, irritability and fatigue. Iron, an important nutrient necessary for formation of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all body cells, is found in abundance in raisins.
• Raisins are an excellent source of potassium and magnesium (two of the most popular constituents of antacids) that help keep acidosis in check. Acidosis is a state of increased acidity of the blood or of respiratory system. If not checked upon, it may give rise to a number of problems like boils, skin diseases, damage to the internal organs, arthritis, gout, renal calculi, hair loss, heart diseases, tumors, and even cancer.
• Raisins are one of the best dietary sources of calcium and boron, which are vital nutrients for healthy teeth and bones. The calcium, boron, and other minerals present in raisins, in combination with estrogen in women, help make bones stronger and keep osteoporosis at bay.
• The antioxidant properties present in raisins in the form of polyphenolic phytonutrients are known to maintain good ocular health. These phytonutrients provide protection against the harmful free radicals that may cause the development of cataracts, macular degeneration, blindness and other visual disorders.
• The polyphenolic phytonutrients present in raisins also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and have been found to lower fever by fighting viral and bacterial infections.
• Arginine, an amino acid present in raisins is known to stimulate libido and help overcome sexual weakness. The abundance of energy present in raisins aid the effect.
• The juice soaked or stewed raisins have been found to be a good remedy for sore throat, asthma and cases of catarrh (mucus running from mucous membrane). 

Now that you’ve enough nutritional information on raisins and their health benefits, don’t wait and make them a part of your regular diet.