Raisins

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

You don't have to be a tourist or a marathon participant to rate raisins as a convenient, energizing and low-fat breakfast - they're easy to pack, easy to eat and almost never spoil. Like other dried fruits, raisins are available in stores all year round.

The scientific name of raisins is Vitus vinifera. They are created by dehydrating the grapes using solar heat or by a mechanical process in which they are dried in the oven. Among the most popular species are Sultana, Malaga, Muscat, Zante Courant and others. The size of small stones, raisins have a wrinkled shell over their chewy inside, reminiscent of sugar cakes. Although there are variations in their color, they are mostly dark brown, often with purple hues.

Origin of raisins

Drying the grapes and turning it into raisins has been practiced since antiquity, with dried grapes first mentioned in the Old Testament. Murals show that it was used not only for consumption - but also for decoration, and the ancient Romans used it as a barter unit or as a reward for the winners of sporting events.

Today, the most commercial producer of raisins is California, and more specifically a region known as the San Joaquin Valley, where raisins have been grown since the 19th century. In addition to California, Australia, Turkey, Greece, Iran and Chile are among the leading commercial producers of raisins.

Composition of raisins

Dried grapes contain a large part of the useful summer vitamins and trace elements. They contain antioxidants and especially oleanolic acid. They are rich in vitamins B1, B2 and B5, the elements magnesium and boron. They are an indispensable source of calcium, copper, phosphorus and manganese. Potassium levels are also very high.

100 g of raisins contain 299 kcal, 15.4% water, 3 g protein, 79 g carbohydrates, 0.45 g fat, 59 g sugars, 3.7 g fiber and 0 mg cholesterol.

Selection and storage of raisins

• If possible, buy raisins in bulk so you can see if they are moist and healthy.

• If you need to buy them packaged, make sure they are tightly closed and packaged by a reputable company.

• You can store them in the refrigerator in well-sealed bags. They will be the freshest if you consume them within 6 months.

Culinary use of raisins

Raisins have very widely used in the cuisine of the Middle and Middle East, as well as in the Mediterranean. Dark and almost black raisins are mostly used for making cakes, Easter cakes and cupcakes.

Light raisins are a great addition to many drinks, risottos and various meat dishes. Large fleshy raisins have a very pleasant taste and complement a number of drinks.

To restore dried raisins, soak them in a little hot water, which you can then also add to the recipe.

Raisins are suitable for most baked pastries. You can add them to bread, cake or sweets.

You can add raisins, onions and peppers to the brown rice to create a slightly extra dish. The sweet taste of raisins makes them a suitable part of the filling of home-made chicken or sauerkraut.

Benefits of raisins

Raisins are part of many studies related to the phytonutrients they contain. They have a unique phenolic content and are a major source of microminerals and boron.

- Thanks to the phenols they contain, raisins have antioxidant protection. Phenols help prevent oxygen-based damage to human cells. Although not so affected by the drying process, raisins still contain less phenols compared to fresh grapes;

- The chemical element boron is welcome for the strength of our bones. Although not so often mentioned, pine is especially important for our health, especially in connection with bone health and the onset of osteoporosis in women. Boron is a micromineral needed in the conversion of estrogen and vitamin D, especially in the postmenopausal period. Raisins contain a really good amount of this element;

- Raisins protect us from Macular degeneration (damage to vision due to age). Your mother may have told you that it is good to eat more carrots for good eyesight, but over time it turns out that fruits are more suitable for this purpose than vegetables. People who took the fetus three times a day showed a reduction in the risk of macular degeneration by almost 40%. That's why always add a handful of raisins in your breakfast cereal, in your milk at lunch and in your vegetable or green salads at dinner;

- Raisins are among the few sweet products that are allowed during diets for weight loss. This is due to their high energy contribution. There are many people who avoid consuming them due to the large amount of sugars, which are 8 times more than in grapes. The good news is that raisins do not damage teeth like other sweet products.

- Regular consumption of raisins helps fight fatigue and depression. They have an excellent tonic effect and are therefore recommended for athletes, the elderly and young people who do hard physical or intellectual work.

- Raisins are recommended for people who suffer from insomnia, emotional overload, neurosis, irritability, melancholy and panic attacks. Doctors recommend all people to consume raisins regularly and include them in your menu as they help to improve mental abilities. They are also useful for blood circulation in the brain, which helps improve memory, process more information and increase concentration.

- Normalize bowel function and donate the endocrine system. They are also good for the liver as they help restore liver cells.

- Remove toxins from the body and heavy metals. Raisins are especially useful in gout, as they increase the excretion of uric acid from the body.

- They have a beneficial effect on the health of the mouth and gums, as they contain substances that have excellent bactericidal properties.

- Raisins are rich in calcium, which helps strengthen the bone system. That is why it is very important that raisins are present in the menu of young children, whose bone system is still being built. This also applies to the elderly, who often suffer from a lack of calcium, which in turn can lead to a number of problems and diseases, such as osteoporosis.

Raisins are especially useful for women because

1. Normalize sleep and the nervous system;

2. Stabilize the cardiovascular system;

3. Strengthening the muscular system and bones;

4. Normalize the intestines (microflora);

5. Help maintain the optimal level of hemoglobin in the blood;

6. Activate brain activity;

7. Help fight viruses, infections and inflammatory processes.

Grape seeds contain important plant hormones that are necessary for women's health, namely phytoestrogens. They are especially useful for the weaker sex in the postmenopausal period, but also appear menopausal symptoms and alleviate the general condition of women in this period.

Raisins are also useful if you want to lose weight, because with them you can easily satisfy your feeling of hunger and saturate your body with a number of useful substances. Dried grapes are also useful during lactation, but it is still important not to overdo it and start adding raisins to your diet only after the baby is 2 months old. They, in turn, help strengthen the nervous system, regulate bowel function and maintain proper blood composition.

Raisins are also useful for menas they have an excellent effect on sexual function. Regular consumption of raisins has been shown to help minimize the risk of impotence due to changes in the hormonal levels of the stronger sex. Raisins also contain a number of beneficial substances that increase sperm production and also improve sperm viscosity. This is largely due to the active ingredient - arginine.

Dried grapes are a valuable source of a number of important amino acids in our body, which in turn improve brain activity in men, help build muscle mass, charge with energy and strength. Experts recommend taking raisins as a prophylaxis of prostatitis.

Harm from raisins

Golden raisins contain sulfiteswhich prevent darkening and changes in aroma. In some people, the sulfite compounds used can cause allergic reactions.