Black raisins are generally seedless and sweet in taste. This is why this natural sweetener is used in a wide variety of baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies. Black raisins are also used in traditional medicine to treat cough and inflammation in the respiratory tract.
If you've only been adding black raisins to oatmeal-flavored cookies, it's time to introduce yourself to more options and incorporate them into your diet. Black raisins are a great source of energy and rich in nutrients and help enrich overall health. Learn about their benefits and how to use them in your meals.
Black raisins are a popular type of dried grape. The scientific name of the grape is Vitis vinifera and it is native to the Mediterranean region, Central Europe and Southwest Asia.
These raisins are generally seedless and sweet in taste. This is why this natural sweetener is used in a wide variety of baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies. Black raisins are also used in many traditional medicinal cases such as treating coughs and inflammation in the respiratory tract.
Nutritional properties of black raisins
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, raisins are a rich source of natural sugars, fiber and carbohydrates. They also contain a significant amount of protein. Minerals in raisins include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron and sodium. When it comes to vitamins, black raisins are also a good source of vitamin C and folate. Let's find out how these nutrients help improve overall health.
Black raisins help prevent oral and dental diseases, control diabetes, enhance cognitive function, improve digestion, and maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
1. Protect cardiovascular health
Eating black raisins regularly can be very beneficial for you. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber and polyphenols, which may protect heart health.
The published results of an article show that adding black raisins to the diet may have beneficial effects on the body. This suggests that raisins can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood pressure.
Soaking black raisins in water at night and eating them as a breakfast can be an old medicinal treatment used to treat high blood pressure in India and neighboring countries. Although this habit has persisted for years, there is no confirmed evidence of this until recently.
2. oral health
Black raisins in the diet are an excellent way to harden the gums.
According to research conducted at the University of Illinois, Chicago, raisins contain antimicrobial compounds such as olanolic acid, olanolic aldehyde, linoleic acid and linolenic acid. They fight oral pathogens and prevent gum disease.
3. Diabetes control
Black raisins have a low to moderate glycemic index (GI), meaning that the carbohydrates in these dried fruits do not significantly affect blood sugar levels.
Also, the results of various studies have proven that black raisins are very useful in regulating blood sugar levels.
In the results of a 2015 trial, it was found that consuming black raisins instead of processed snacks can help improve glucose levels among people with type 2 diabetes.
4. Memory Improvement
It is important to focus on nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables as they reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
An animal study was conducted by research centers in Iran, Australia, and Canada to investigate the effect of raisin consumption on brain tissue in old rats. Finally, the results show that black raisins have excellent antioxidant properties that help improve cognitive performance as well as memory.
5. Anti-cancer properties
A 2013 research study published in the journal Food and Function found that raisins help fight colon cancer cells. This effect is due to the presence of phenolic compounds in these dry grapes. It has also been found that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of black raisins have been effective in maintaining immunity.
6. Better and easy digestion
When digestive problems arise, black raisins are the only food that can definitely provide relief. Due to its high fiber content, this food reduces the risk of constipation.
How to consume black raisins
There are many wonderful ways to eat black raisins. Some of them are:
· You can add raisins to your cookies.
· You can use raisins instead of sugar in your sweets.
· Add black raisins to your green salads to make them taste amazing.
· Add a handful of black raisins to cereal or yogurt and enjoy its fresh taste.