Nutrition and Health from Raspberries

Raspberry picking is something that I used to do a lot of in the past, and really should start doing again. There are many bushes growing wild near my property, and a couple on the property.  

I used to spend a lot of time in our woodlands picking blueberries, but this was before there were bear sightings in our area...now there are not just occasional sightings, but they have become regular visitors.  So I hesitate to wander in the woods alone. But I always take what berries I can off of the close-by bushes that I pass when walking or looking around my yard.

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Raspberries are a delicious fruit, and according to research, a very healthy fruit as well. Research published in the May 2005 issue of the journal Biofactors shows that Raspberries are loaded with powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants that can support your immune system and help your body to ward off disease. Click the highlighted Biofactors link for more current articles on Raspberries.

The antioxidants in Raspberries include ellagic acid which protects your cells from becoming damaged. Other nutrients in Raspberries include quercetin, kaempferol, and the cyanidin-based molecules called cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. These flavonoid molecules are also classified as anthocyanins, and they belong to the group of substances that give raspberries their rich red color.

The anthocyanins in Raspberries are very powerful antioxidants that have antimicrobial properties as well, including the ability to prevent overgrowth of certain bacteria and fungi in the body such as Candida. The biggest contribution to raspberries' antioxidant capacity is their ellagitannins, a family of compounds almost exclusive to the raspberry, which are reported to have anti-cancer activity.
In addition to their abundant phytonutrient and antioxidant content, raspberries are a rich source of manganese and vitamin C that help protect the body's tissue from oxygen-related damage. They are also a good source of important nutrients such as riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins and copper.

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Updated 11/6/18

Image Credit: Ulleo on Pixabay