Raisin: Did you know its magical health benefits?

Dried grape or raisin is a nutrient-rich item the benefits of which are often not recognized. Many people don’t even realize that it is one among the dry fruits.

However, raisins are ideal snacks for children at school. The dry fruit contains plenty of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It also has resveratrol, a phytochemical that helps reduce cholesterol and also prevent cancer.

The following are the major benefits of regularly taking raisins:

Prevents anaemia

Dried grapes are rich in iron, copper and Vitamin B complex. Eating some raisins every day would ensure that there is no iron deficiency and prevents anaemia.

Checks cancer

Raisins have a high level of the polyphenolic antioxidants catechins, which neutralize free radicals. This prevents the occurrence of cancer in the large intestine. In fact, making dried grapes part of the daily diet checks the incidence of several other cancers also.

Quick digestion

As they are rich in fibre, dried grapes constipation at bay. Eating the dry fruit regularly would make the digestive mechanism efficient.

Reduces acidity

Potassium and magnesium are among the minerals found in raisins. These minerals help reduce acidity.

A remedy for diseases

Skin diseases, joint pain and hair loss can also be controlled by consuming dried grapes daily. The fruit will help regulate the pH level in the body and prevents acidity as well as its related effects.

Relief from fever

Raisins are rich in phenolic phytochemicals, giving them antibacterial properties. They have several antioxidants too. All these can help dried grapes offer regular users relief from viral fever and bacterial infections.

For healthy eyes

Incidence of diseases affecting the eyes like cataract and macular degeneration can be prevented by having raisins. As dry grapes contain significant amounts of Vitamin A and beta carotene, they are much beneficial to the health of eyes and improve eyesight.

Source of energy

A quick way to get a shot of energy is to eat a few dried grapes. Natural sugars like glucose and fructose in the dry fruit enable this. These sugars also help absorption of proteins.

Healthy teeth

Dried grapes can help solve many of the problems affecting the teeth as it contains a phytochemical called Oleanolic acid. Raisins prevent the growth of bacteria inside the mouth. This helps check teeth decay or toothache. Calcium, which protects the enamel of the teeth, is also present in raisins.

Check high blood pressure

Hypertension patients would benefit by eating a handful of raisins regularly. The antioxidants, potassium, iron and Vitamin B complex present in the dry fruit reduce the thickening of the blood vessels. As sodium is absent in dry grape, it is an ideal light snack.

Enables sleep

Studies have found that raisins help solve insomnia as well.

For healthy bones

Rich in calcium, raisins strengthen bones and offer relief from joint pains. The dry fruits also have plenty of boron, a micronutrient. Another advantage of raisins is prevention of osteoporosis that develops during menopause.

Helps losing weight

After eating some raisins, a person may not feel hungry for a long time as they have a lot of fibres. This makes the dry fruit a good option for people attempting weight-loss. In other words, dried grapes are an ideal substitute for junk foods that are unhealthy.