Raisins

What do you think of when you think about a raisin?

Do you think about how they started as a grape? Does your mind turn to how yummy they are to eat?  Do you worry they have too much sugar?

Private Home Health Care loves raisins and we decided to learn more about them to learn of any health benefits or cautions of this yummy fruit.  

To begin, there are three kinds of raisins:  dark raisins, sultanas (golden raisins) and currants.

All three raisin types are great sources of antioxidants that help your cells fight off the free radical molecules that want to hurt you.  

Raisins also contain good amounts of iron, copper, potassium and manganese.  Add boron to help with bone and joint health and one quarter cup is a bit of a powerhouse. The iron helps to guard against anemia.

There is more sugar, calories and carbs in raisins over grapes but their glycemic index is between low to moderate so your blood sugar level is slower to rise. That’s a positive.

The sultanas or golden raisins have the least amount of sugar but again with the low glycemic index in all types are ok for people with diabetes to eat them.  The key is moderation.

Raisins can also help with heart health, lower your risk of chronic disease, and help with better gastrointestinal and oral health. 

The bottom line is that small amounts of raisins at a given time can be super beneficial, even if you have to watch your blood sugar.  They are a healthy choice so add them to your cereal, oatmeal or yogurt.  Grab some nuts and use them in a trail mix.

They are excellent on salads and of course when you treat yourself to a muffin or a scone.

We hope you’ve learned a bit about these dried up grapes and know that if you eat them in small amounts the health benefits are great, especially for such a small food.