Despite of what they are called, raspberries are not really berries from a botanical perspective. That’s because they come from flowers with multiple ovaries in them. With that fact aside, it’s time to focus on the goodness of eating raspberries.
Raspberries look fantastic and they taste wonderful. That is why it’s easy for anyone to love these summer fruits. Getting them included in your diet allows you to enjoy a number of health benefits. Read on to know why it’s a good idea to place raspberries on the top of your fruit shopping list.
They are Good for the Eyes
Raspberries are some of the most interesting-looking fruits on the planet. Go ahead and munch on them because they are actually good for your set of peepers. Raspberries are packed with vitamin C, a nutrient that helps keep your eyes healthy by minimizing the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays on them. What’s more, raspberries also contain zeaxanthins — antioxidants that help reduce the effects of macular degeneration, a condition which causes loss of vision.
Raspberries Promote Healthy Digestion
Just like many other fruits, raspberries are packed with fiber that helps keep constipation at bay. Sufficient amounts of fiber in the diet helps promote regular bowel movement as well as the flushing out of impurities in the gut. Consuming raspberries on a daily basis is also good for the immune system. According to the pros, fiber encourages the multiplication of good bacteria in the gut, something which can strengthen the body’s own defense mechanism.
Eating Them Boosts Brain Power
Several studies have shown that flavonoids — plant pigments that offer superb health benefits — in raspberries can help in improving the memory and overall brain functioning. Experts add that flavonoids are very good at slowing down age-related decline in cognitive ability. As earlier said, raspberries are excellent sources of fiber. Aside from being good for the gut, fiber also helps improve circulation, thus allowing more nutrients and oxygen to get to the brain.
Including Them in the Diet is Good for the Heart
Fiber in raspberries helps remove plaque and cholesterol in the arteries, and this helps in lowering your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Raspberries are also packed with antioxidants such as anthocyanins that ward off inflammation. Medical experts link inflammation to a dizzying number of health problems, and one of them is heart disease. Eat raspberries on a regular basis to keep inflammation at bay and maintain an optimally-functioning ticker.
Raspberries Help Keep Cancer at Bay
What make raspberries excellent at lowering your risk of cancer as well as the ability of these delectable fruits to reduce inflammation are their loads of antioxidants. Experts say that certain antioxidants in raspberries such as ellagitannins are able to induce apoptosis — death of cancer cells. Studies have shown that raspberries are effective in killing off most especially cells that cause cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, breasts, cervix and prostate.
They Keep Your Skin Looking Young
Raspberries are loaded with vitamin C, and this is the reason why eating sufficient amounts of these summer fruits can make you look young. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects the skin from the sun’s UV radiation as well as damaging free radicals. It also helps improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Aside from eating them, you may also mash some raspberries and mix them with plain yogurt to come up with an anti-aging mask.
Eating Raspberries Helps You Lose Excess Pounds
It’s no secret that replacing fat- and calorie-laden foods with fruits and vegetables can help you slim down. Raspberries contain zero fat as well as cholesterol! A 100-gram serving of them only contains 53 calories. Studies have also shown that raspberries contain rheosmin, a compound known to help in accelerating the metabolic rate. The faster your metabolism is, the easier it is for you to lose calories and fat, and ultimately those excess pounds.
You can enjoy all of these benefits simply by including raspberries in your diet. Eat them as they are or throw them in your bowl of green or fruit salad. They also make for wonderful additions to yogurt, oatmeal and smoothies. There are lots of baked goodies which raspberries help make become tastier and more nutritious.
