Green Raisin
Green Raisin
More commonly known as “kishmish”, raisins are basically dried grapes. In UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, the word raisin is reserved for dark coloured large grapes, with sultana being a golden coloured dried grape and currant being a dried small black corinth seedless grape. Green raisins are juicy and tender.
These sun- soaked gems are a good source of natural sugars, iron and B vitamins. Raisins look very simple and unpalatable with their aged appearance and dry texture, but they are one of nature’s healthiest alternatives to those sugar rich manufactured candies and sweet products. Raisins contains fibres that start to swell in the presence of water.
Health Benefits of Dried Figs
Figs are often recommended to nourish and tone the intestines, they act as a natural laxative because of their high fibre content. The fibre they provide also has prebiotic properties, feeding the gut bacteria and promoting a healthy gut environment which as a result improves digestive wellness.
Figs, especially ripe ones, are rich in protective plant compounds called polyphenols. These compounds have protective antioxidant properties, this means they help prevent oxygen from reacting with other chemicals and causing damage to cells and tissues, by so doing they are key to managing oxidation.
Many of us consume too much sodium (salt), which is found in processed foods. High intakes of sodium can lead to deficiencies of potassium and this imbalance may lead to high blood pressure (hypertension). A diet rich in fruit and vegetables, including fresh figs, naturally increases potassium levels and is therefore encouraged to help manage blood pressure.
A study examining the specific effects of fig extract in animals showed reductions in blood pressure for those with normal as well as hypertensive readings.
Figs are a good source of bone-friendly minerals including calcium,magnesium and phosphorus. Figs are especially rich in calcium with some studies suggesting they contain 3.2 times more than other fruits.
Being a good source of potassium may help to counteract the urinary excretion of calcium, caused by a high salt diet. This in turn helps to keep calcium in bones and as a result may lessen the risk of osteoporosis.
Naturally high in dietary fibre and packed with vitamins and minerals, figs may be a useful dietary inclusion to improve the nutritional density of your diet and in turn help with weight management. High fibre foods provide feelings of fullness and can reduce hunger and cravings whilst key nutrients improve blood management.
Health Benefits of Green Raisin
When you take kishmish, it swells up in the process of intake due to the natural fluids in the body. This adds bulk to the food which is moving in the gastrointestinal tract and naturally gives you relief from constipation. Besides giving you a solution to constipation, kishmish also helps in stopping loose motions, by absorbing the liquid part of loose stools, thereby reducing the frequency of diarrhea.
High quantity of catechins can be found in kishmish. They are antioxidants which eat up the free radicals found in the body, thereby stopping the destruction of organ systems and cells. Upon including kishmish in your diet, you help in the growth of catechins in the body, thereby preventing cancer from forming in the first place, and halting its progress (in case your body has started to show signs of this deadly disease).
The small sized “sultana” can turn out to be our biggest friend when it comes to protecting our heart health. There are many nutrients in it which play a beneficial role, and the credit goes to the high levels of potassium found in raisins. Potassium reduces the tension built up in the blood vessels, thereby decreasing blood pressure. Even the dietary fiber in raisins helps reduce the stiffness of blood vessels, in the process, relieves you of hypertension.
Dried apricots are a rich source of Potassium, a mineral linked with promoting healthy blood pressure. You can expect to consume around 259mg of potassium for every 3.5 ounces of apricots (approximately half a cup of fruits).
A research study conducted in 2013 showed high-quality evidence that consuming potassium may reduce high blood pressure in individuals suffering from hypertension. The study further suggested that a higher intake of potassium was linked to a 24 percent reduction in the risk of stroke.
We all know calcium found in milk makes our bones strong. Did you know calcium is found in raisins, which makes it the best source of micronutrient Boron? A micronutrient is that nutrient which our body needs in very small amount. And boron is that micronutrient which enhances bone formation and aids in the faster absorption of calcium.
Flavonoids work by neutralizing free radicals in our bodies, which are responsible for causing oxidative stress and damaging our cells. Additionally, consuming flavonoids may help lower inflammation. A 2015 study found growing evidence that flavonoids may have an anti-inflammatory effect in relation to certain chronic diseases.
