Raspberry benefits and Face mask

Rasberries~

..Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, raspberry is a delicious fruit with many health benefits. Raspberries have high concentration of ellagic acid, a phenolic compound that prevents cancer, thereby ceasing the growth of cancer cells and stopping the growth of some cancers.

The oil of raspberry has sun protection factor. Moreover it helps to lose weight and also takes proper care of your skin while ageing. Improving your immune system, this kind of berry actually looks after your overall health structure. These berries are easy to include in your diet. Either you include them in some recipes, eat them raw or add the chilled raspberries to your drinks; all the forms tantalize your taste buds and also provide nutrition at the same time.

                                                       

 8 Health benefits of raspberry

Raspberries are delicious fruits that tantalize your taste buds and satisfy your nutrient needs at the same time. Raspberries contain noteworthy amounts of polyphenol antioxidants like anthocyanin pigments that are associated to optimal health protection. This berry has a high proportion of dietary fiber. Raspberry is one of the plant foods with the highest ranking fiber contents. Of all contents, fiber comprises around 20% of the berry’s total weight.

Raspberries are excellent source of vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber. Raspberries are also rich in B vitamins, folic acid, copper and iron. This berry has the highest concentration of antioxidant strength amongst all fruits. This is due to its high concentration of ellagic acid, anthocyanins, gallic acid, quercetin, cyanidins, catechins, pelargonidins, kaempferol and salicylic acid. However, yellow raspberries and other pale-colored fruits have much lower percentage of anthocyanins. Thus, raspberries can be considered as the best natural treatment for cancers.

Helps to lose weight

This fruit is high in dietary fiber and manganese. Fiber aids in slowing down the digestive process so that you will feel full longer. The trace mineral manganese keeps your metabolic rate high, and thereby burns fat. If you are looking forward to lose weight, raspberries can be the best natural
option.

Reduces wrinkles

Raspberries works like magic on wrinkles. It can be used as a natural face mask. It also protects the skin against the sun rays. The antioxidant powers from vitamin C effectively reduce the age spots and discoloration. By filling in minor wrinkles, raspberries help you to restore your youth. Raspberries can be made into great facial masks for glowing skin; you just need to mix 1 cup of plain yogurt and 2 cups of fresh raspberries, blend the mixture until it gets completely smooth. Apply the mixture to your entire face and keep it for 15 minutes. Then wash it off with tepid water.

Prevents macular degeneration

Three servings of raspberries a day can prove to be a brilliant natural remedy for macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is an age related medical condition which affects vision. This leads to loss of vision in the midpoint of the visual field due to damage to the retina. This can occur in both “dry” and “wet” forms. You can add these berries to your morning cereal or lunch time yogurt. You can alter the taste and look of any green salad with a handful of these fresh raspberries and an addition of balsamic vinegar. You can also mix the frozen raspberries with a spoonful of honey and some vanilla soy milk, and then freeze this mixture for 20 minutes and then spoon into serving cups. Garnish with mint and enjoy the healthy treat. (Read more: The New Healing Herbs: The Classic Guide to Nature’s Best Medicines by Michael Castleman)

Prevents infections and cancer

As said earlier, raspberries are excellent antioxidant food that contains ellagic acid. Raspberries efficiently stop undesirable damage to cell membranes and thus neutralize free radicals. Ellagic acid is a phytonutrient component of raspberry with key substances like kaempferol, quercetin, and the cyanidin-based molecules called cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside. These flavonoid molecules are again broken into anthocyanins, which contributes to the raspberries their
rich red color. The anthocyanins of raspberries are responsible for its unique antioxidant properties and also some antimicrobial ones. This promptly cuts down the overgrowth of certain bacteria and fungi in the body. These growths often lead to different vaginal infections and sometimes even irritable bowel syndrome.

Moreover, recent studies have suggested that raspberries may have cancer shielding properties. Some research was done with animals that have concluded that raspberries have the potential to obstruct cancer cell proliferation and tumor development in different parts of the body, including the colon.

Promotes optimal health

Raspberries, blackberries and muscadine grapes all have metalloproteinase enzymes. These are essential for the development and renovation of tissues, however if they are produced in abnormally high amounts, it may act as a catalyst for cancer development. Raspberries have high amounts of vitamin C, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, manganese, niacin, potassium and copper. This makes them a complete fruit to offer overall health prosperity.

Strengthens immune system

Raspberries are enriched in effective antioxidants as well phytonutrients. These elements proficiently reinforce your immune system and help your body to fight diseases.

Possesses high nutrient value

Other than the outstanding phytonutrient content, raspberries are rich in traditional nutrients, primarily in the antioxidant and B vitamin categories. As mentioned earlier, raspberries are excellent source of manganese and vitamin C, two important antioxidant nutrients that protects the body’s tissue from oxygen-related damage. Raspberries are also good sources of riboflavin, niacin, folate, magnesium, potassium and copper. When complimented with this strong B vitamin and mineral content, raspberries are termed as “excellent” dietary fiber. The nutrient value of raspberry makes it a great fruit choice for having negligible effect on blood sugar level.

Promotes women’s health

Some documentation has suggested that raspberries are also good for women. They are good for single women, pregnant women as well as lactating mothers. (Read more: Smart medicine for a healthier child by Janet Zand, Robert Rountree, Bob Rountree, Rachel Walton) Raspberry leaves can be used as herbal teas for single women, which regulate menstrual cycles and decrease excessively heavy menstrual flow. In case of pregnant women, raspberry tea successfully relieves nausea, prevents hemorrhage, reduce pain and help in childbirth. For lactating mothers, raspberry tea or eating this fruit will help to increase the production of breast milk.

Origin of raspberries

Raspberries have a long history and their existence dates back to prehistoric times. Wild raspberries are believed to have originated in eastern Asia; there are also varieties of raspberries that have originated in the western hemisphere. The raspberry seeds were probably carried by travelers or animals that crossed and migrated to the Bering Strait (south of the Arctic Circle) during early times.

The extent of wild raspberries is seen all across the globe. The transmission of this variety of berries throughout the world seems to have happened through migrated men or animals. In pre historic times, hunter-gatherers moved across far distances in order to collect food. While coming back to the villages they threw away some smaller sized raspberries and these later grew up to be raspberry plants. Thus these plants started to be propagated in other areas.

The first written mention of raspberries was found in an English book based on herbal medicine that was dated in 1548. Raspberries cultivation began widely in Europe and North America during the 19th century when many new hybrid varieties of raspberry like the loganberry and boysenberry started to develop through either in a fortuitous way or due to intentional crossbreeding. Currently, the leading major producers of raspberries include Poland, Germany, Yugoslavia, Russia, Chile and the United States.

How to buy and store raspberry?

Raspberries are highly perishable, thus you can purchase them only one or two days before use. Select the berries that have firm structure, fleshy and dark in color. Always avoid the ones which are soft, mushy or moldy. If you are buying berries that are already packed in a container, ensure that they are not packed too tightly as it can crush the berries and damage them. The container also should not have any stains or moisture, which indicates spoilage. Fresh raspberries are usually available from summertime through first fall.

Raspberries are easily perishable fruits, so ultimate care should be taken while storage. Before storing in the refrigerator, pick up and discard the berries that are molded or spoiled to avoid the spread. Place the unwashed, dry berries back in their original container or keep them lined with a paper towel and then cover it with plastic wrap. Raspberries will stay fresh in the refrigerator for one or two days; never keep raspberries at room temperature or in strong sunlight for too long, it will spoil them.

Raspberries freeze very well, thus making storage easier. Wash them moderately in the low pressure of the sink sprayer so that it maintains their delicate shape and then pat them dry with a paper towel. Arrange the berries in a single layer on a flat sheet and place them in the freezer. Once the berries are frozen, you can keep the berries in a heavy plastic bag and store in the freezer where they will stay into proper state up to one year. If you wish to preserve their bright color, add a little lemon juice to the raspberries.                   
                                                

                                                      A few other facts you'd like to know

Few raspberry servings

Raspberries and other forms of berries have truly magnificent color, aroma and flavor that actually do not require any recipe for consuming. However, if you wish to enhance your diet with a complete nutritious meal, you can of course add raspberries to make your recipes unique. To make a raspberry drink, Mix one packet of flavored raspberry gelatin to half cup water that is boiling. Keep bolending this mixture well until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Then add half cup of vanilla yoghurt, half cup fruits and one cup of crushed ice. Blend the drink well, until it gets smooth enough.

To make raspberry tea, keep 5 tea bags of raspberry flavor into 5 cups of hot water. You can also empty the tea into a large bowl, take a towel and cover your head then stoop over the bowl to enjoy the aroma. This practice will not only bring back your energy, but also imparts most of the raspberry benefits.

You can mix fresh raspberries in with rich millet porridge for a sweetened morning breakfast treat that is also highly nutritious. To enhance your dish’s flavor and look, sprinkle some fresh raspberries with balsamic vinegar. You can also mix your yogurt with raspberries, honey and freshly ground mint with a topping of waffles or pancakes. You will find the almond butter and raspberry jam in commercial stores nowadays, which have reportedly great sell.

Considering how much sweetener you use the homemade raspberry coulis is a great option to use as a sauce for either flavorful chicken dishes or sweet desserts. Try out taking a bowl of berries with a spoonful of light-whipped topping and a pinch of chopped pecans or walnuts. Adding raspberries to different kinds of cereals and salads is a traditional method of consuming this fruit. You can also mix frozen berries with low-fat milk and bananas to make a smoothie. If you have dried berries at home, try it out as snacks with some sugar added.

Raspberries have always been a popular food amongst all ages. Its health benefits are spreading steadily and even more recipes of raspberries are being invented. Consuming these berries fresh have the maximum nutrition, however add-ons and some alteration to the texture will also bring a boost to ur health
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