Looking for another power-treat to add to your diet? You may be surprised that the unassuming raisin has a few health benefits that could improve your quality of life. You'd think that the process of dehydrating grapes would remove nutrients, but actually, the opposite is true. "When grapes are dehydrated to produce raisins, the nutrients become more concentrated," Healthy Eating reports.
Next time your sweet tooth starts nagging, reach for a handful of raisins instead and reap a few of these benefits:
Advertisement
1. Fight cavities: Noshing on raisins can actually help fight cavities and gum disease, reports WebMD. According to Organic Facts, raisins contain a micro-nutrient called Boron. Boron helps your body absorb calcium and aids in bone formation. Not only that, raisins contain oleanolic acid which protects your teeth against brittleness and tooth decay! And don't worry about them sticking to your teeth, that gives the acid more time to help you chompers. According to WebMD, researchers have not determined the precise amount of raisins one should eat each day to achieve these benefits.
2. Digestive benefits: Raisins are high in fiber. This means these tiny snacks can help your body become more ... ahem... regular, which helps rid your body of toxins. Not only that, this type of fiber can help regulate your blood sugar and cholesterol.
3. Raisins are high in iron and potassium: Health Eating reports that those sweet snakes contain 10 percent of your daily iron needs from a small box of raisins (5 percent for women). To top it off, raisins are a great source of potassium which helps your body regulate your heart rate.
4. Raisins help improve sexual dysfunction: They may not be a typical aphrodisiac, but raisins have been linked to an increased libido in men and women. This may be due to the Arginine content, which is used to aid in erectile dysfunction, Organic Facts reports.
Advertisement
5. Healthy source of energy: Not all carbs are created equal. Raising contain about 34 grams of carbohydrates per serving, according to Healthy Eating, This number includes 26 grams of sugar, which translates into quick energy. Raisins offer the same benefits that sports chews do for athletes who perform in endurance sports.
Do you like raisins? Tell us about your favorite way to eat raisins in the comments below.