Raisins

Description

Raisins are dried grapes. The benefits of raisins for the human body are well known. It is an antioxidant very rich in vitamins and minerals. But we hear about the dangers of dried grapes much less often …

Raisins are dried grapes and are a popular and healthy type of dried fruit. Its main advantage is that it contains over 80% sugars, tartaric and linoleic acids, nitrogenous substances, and fiber.

Also, raisins contain vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, C, H, K, E) and minerals (potassium, boron, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium).

Raisins are useful and necessary for those who need to strengthen the immune system. The dried grapes contain antioxidants, and eating dried berries will strengthen the body, weakened by various diseases.

The boron content in raisins makes it a “tasty” means of preventing osteoporosis and osteochondrosis. Boron ensures the complete absorption of calcium, which is the primary material for building and strengthening bones.

The fact that dried fruits are beneficial products for humans has long been proven. Raisins are just one of the most favorite delicacies among dried fruits for both adults and children. It is not for nothing that it occupies such a leading position, because it has many useful properties and has a lot of advantages.

Raisins entirely replace sweets, have a wide range of cooking and traditional medicine applications, and positively affect the human body.

Composition and calorie content

Due to the content of magnesium and B vitamins in raisins, which restore the nervous system’s functioning and normalize sleep, it is useful for people with a bad mood and those who have insomnia.

An average of 100 g of raisins contains:

• Water – 15.4 g
• Proteins – 3.2 g
• Fat – 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates – 73.7 g
• Dietary fiber (fiber) – 5.3 g
• Ash – 1.8 g
• Vitamins:

• Beta Carotene, Vitamin A 6 mcg
• Thiamine, Vitamin B1 – 0.16 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – 0.08 mg
• Niacin (vitamin B3 or vitamin PP) – 0.8 mg
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) – 0.6 mg
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) – 0.24 mg
• Folic acid (vitamin B9) – 3.3 mcg
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – 3.3 mg
• Tocopherol, Vitamin E – 0.7 mg
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone) – 3.5 mcg
• Biotin (vitamin H) – 2 mcg
• Macronutrients:

• Potassium – 751 mg
• Calcium – 49 mg
• Magnesium – 33 mg
• Sodium – 12 mg
• Phosphorus – 97 mg
• Chlorine – 9 mg
• Trace elements:

• Iron – 2.07 mg
• Manganese – 303 mcg
• Copper – 303 mcg
• Selenium – 0.69 mcg
• Zinc – 276 mcg
• Calorie content

100 g of dried grapes contains on average about 300 kcal.

Raisin history

Since ancient times, grapes have been used primarily to create such a famous drink as wine. The raisins were made completely by accident due to someone forgetting to remove the remnants of grapes, covered with a cloth and set aside expressly to prepare this popular drink.

When, after some time, the grapes were discovered, they had already turned into a delicacy known to us with a sweet taste and aroma.

For the first time, raisins were specially made for sale in 300 BC. Phoenicians. Dried grapes were not famous in central Europe, despite their popularity in the Mediterranean. They began to learn about this delicacy only in the XI century when the knights began to bring it to Europe from the Crusades.

The raisins came to America together with the colonists who brought grape seeds there. In Asia and Europe, dried grapes were also known for a long time, back in the XII-XIII centuries, when the Mongol-Tatar yoke got it from Central Asia. However, there are opinions that this happened earlier, during the times of Kievan Rus, through Byzantium.

The benefits of raisins

The benefits of dried fruits are known since times of our distant ancestors, who widely used them in cooking and folk medicine. And not in vain, because raisins have a huge amount of nutrients and vitamins.

On the surface, raisins are a great snack option, but you need to be careful with serving size if you’re counting calories.

By themselves, raisins contain a small number of useful elements: potassium, magnesium, and iron. Also, dried grapes are an antioxidant. Despite the favorable properties, it is important to pay attention to the process of “drying” raisins. For example, white raisins retain their golden color only thanks to preservatives, such as sulfur dioxide; there can be no question of benefits.

Let’s go back to the calorie content. A handful of raisins contains about 120 kcal but does not saturate for a long time but only gives a short-term energy burst. That is not true, for example, about a whole banana, which is an order of magnitude lower in calories.

It is best to combine dried grapes with other products: with cottage cheese or porridge.

As a source of quick energy, raisins will come in handy before an exam, competition, workout or a long walk.

Useful components of raisins

100 grams of raisins contain about 860 mg of potassium. It also includes such macronutrients as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, and vitamins B1, B2, B5, and PP (nicotinic acid).

Raisins have a beneficial effect on the body and have bactericidal, immunostimulating, sedative, and diuretic effects.

The sedative effect of raisins can be easily explained by the content of niacin and vitamins B1, B2, and B5, which have a relaxing effect on the nervous system and even improve sleep.

Potassium, which is so rich in dried grapes, has a beneficial effect on kidney function and skin condition. It has a diuretic effect, which helps to remove toxic substances from the body.

A decoction of raisins is beneficial for respiratory diseases because it has an immunostimulating and bactericidal effect on the body, thereby accelerating recovery.

Raisins cleanse the blood, correctly help with heart diseases, restores athletes after severe exertion, activates the brain, and accelerates the passage of nerve impulses.

Moreover, the use of raisins helps to activate hemoglobin production, normalize the process of hematopoiesis, restore heart function, strengthen blood vessels, prevent the development of caries, and strengthen tooth enamel.

Thanks to raisins, you can get rid of migraines and depression, improve sleep and improve the general condition of the body.

Thanks to raisins, you can get rid of migraines and depression, improve sleep and improve the general condition of the body.

Raisins harm

Raisins have a huge number of benefits and useful properties. However, this product is very high in calories, so you need to control the consumption amount carefully. This is especially true for people who carefully monitor their weight.

People with diabetes should also not eat raisins in large quantities, as this product has fairly high sugar content.

It is not recommended to take raisins for gastric ulcers, heart failure, or enterocolitis.

Also worth remembering the fact that dried grapes can cause allergic reactions, so if you plan to consume raisins often, you should definitely consult a specialist.

You must be remember that during industrial drying, raisins can be treated with special harmful agents, which must be thoroughly washed off from the product before using it.

Application in medicine

Raisins are popular in folk medicine. People often use them in the form of a decoction since it much better absorbs this concentrated complex of vitamins. Moreover, even children can take it.

Due to the high content of potassium and other minerals, the raisin broth helps restore the body’s water-salt balance. A similar imbalance in the body occurs with certain diseases. Still, it can also appear in people who do not monitor their diet and lifestyle, create excessive physical exertion, have bad habits, or are elderly.

In this case, a decoction of raisins can help restore the body’s work since it has a beneficial effect on blood pressure and the nervous system.

The use of raisins for pneumonia or other diseases of the respiratory organs promotes better sputum discharge.

For rotavirus infections, or other bowel diseases that are accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, it is helpful to take raisins in order to prevent dehydration.

Also, raisins are good to cleanse the body, because it perfectly removes toxins, due to their diuretic effect.

Cooking applications

The taste qualities of raisins set off and complement many dishes. For example, it is good in baking, desserts, hot and cold dishes, salads.

Curd biscuits with raisins

Ingredients

Cottage cheese 5% – 400 gr;
Raisins – 3 tbsp;
Oatmeal Flour – 1 glass;
Egg – 2 pcs;
Baking powder – 1 tsp;
Sweetener – to taste.

Preparation

Soak the raisins in hot water for 30 minutes until they become soft. Meanwhile, knead all the ingredients and beat them in a blender until smooth. We spread the dried raisins to the dough and mix well. We spread our cookies with a tablespoon and send them to a preheated oven at 180 ° C for 30 minutes.