Column

You don’t have to be a backpacker or hiker to appreciate raisins as a convenient, high energy, low-fat snack; they are easy to pack, easy to eat and almost never go bad. Like other dried fruits, raisins are available throughout the year.

What they have:
Raisins can be defined as grapes that have been dried and have a sweet taste, with a wrinkly texture. Often known as nature’s candy, they are counted amongst the most nutritious dried fruits in the whole world.

Raisins are cholesterol-free, low in sodium, high in fiber. Apart from that, they contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, making their nutritional value very high. Raisins are the best source of quick energy, as they contain 70 % pure fructose, which gets digested by the body easily and gives instant energy. There are a number of other nutrition benefits of eating raisins, some of which have been listed in the following lines:

Here are a few health and nutrition benefits:
- Having antioxidant properties, raisins help keep the blood clean and flowing, by getting rid of all the impurities.
- They are believed to be good for bone density and have been associated with lower risk of osteoporosis in women.
- The phytonutrients and slinoleic acid present in raisins makes them beneficial for the health of teeth and gums.
- Raisins are good for eyes and have been found to be helpful in prevention of macular degeneration.
- Being high in calories, but not fats, raisins are a very good source of energy, especially for children and athletes.