When it comes to food, nutrition experts say better choose the less processed ones, those that are naturally available, and also those that don't have a lot of preservatives in it. Raisins are one of the foods that perfectly fit these requirements.
Jenny Friedman, a Philadelphia-based dietitian, says, "They're a whole food that's minimally processed with no added ingredients or preservatives."
But other than that, raisins have some downside: this power-food is packed with calories and sugar, which if not taken moderately can bring forth health problems in the body.
As per the record, raisins have about 130 calories and about 24 grams of sugar per serving.
Given all these? Is it safe to say that raisins are good for your health?
WHAT ARE RAISINS?
Raisins are simply dried grapes. Some of these raisins are created through the traditional way, which is by leaving them outside the sun. These traditional raisins are those that have no artificial stabilizers and preservatives, which could negatively affect the body. Its brown color is produced after it was sun-dried, as posted by The Mice Times of Asia.
Others are dehydrated artificially through dehydrators that manually control humidity and temperature. An example is golden raisins, which contains sulfur dioxide that helps in preserving the fruit. The chemical is also responsible for making its color lighter.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RAISINS?
Raisins contain a lot of sugar. But unlike other artificial sweets, these dried grapes' sugar is all natural.
This natural sugar has characteristic like fiber, which helps the body respond to sugar influx. Furthermore, the fructose in it is also effective and a good source of energy in the body, as it can be burned and used faster.
These raisins are also packed with phytonutrients, which can be found naturally from plants. These phytonutrients have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that can hinder the body's aging and can also help the body become more protected from diseases.
This small concentrated dried fruit can also be a good source of vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium, which is good for cardiovascular health, nerve and muscle function. As reported by TIME, about 300 mg of potassium is in one serving of it.
"Imagine all of the nutrition from one grape concentrated into one tiny package," Friedman explained.
But unfortunately, with all these good stuff, there are but one warning experts would want people to know when consuming raisins: too much of good things can also be bad.
This is why it is still best to control the urges of eating a whole box. Also, it is crucial to remember to choose only those that don't have added sugar on it.
