Raspberry

Delicious and nutritious are two of the names that best describe Raspberry also called hindberry, a fruit that is among the list of the world’s most popular fruits, packed with vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy life.


This exotic little berry is native to Europe but has now widely cultivated in many temperate regions all over the world, a fruit belonging to the Rosaceae family.


Raspberry has a conical shape, weighs about 3-4 g and contains 80-100 drupelets arranged in circular layers. Each drupelet has a seed in it and is enclosed by a pulpy material.

They are relatively easy to grow, and with proper care, can bear fruit indefinitely. Raspberries taste sweet, sour, juicy, and melt in mouth. It can be eaten fresh, used in cakes and desserts or preserved as jam and jelly.

They are rich in B-complex group of vitamins and vitamin K. The berries contain very good amounts of vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid.

These vitamins are function as co-factors and help body in the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fats.

There are two commercially grown species of Raspberry which are the red-fruited Rubus idaeus (European red raspberry) and the black-fruited Rubus occidentalis (Black Raspberry).

There are also other types such as yellow and purple raspberries. Raspberry also comes in a range of other colours including orange and golden yellow to white.


As an antioxidant fruit containing the phytonutrients, raspberries provides strong antioxidants to inhibit the oxidation process in cells which help neutralize free radicals.


According to research, this fruit has almost 50 percent higher antioxidant activity than strawberries, 3 times that of kiwis, and 10 times the antioxidant activity of tomatoes. Raspberry leaves are also known to be effective in regulating the female menstrual cycle.



Aside from being rich in vitamins and minerals, other claimed health benefits that can be derived from red raspberry include treatment for anaemia, heart disease, respiratory problems such as coughs, colds and flu, sore throats, diarrhoea, canker sores, dysentery, and vomiting.


Raspberries are also low in fat and calories and high in fiber content, which makes them an excellent fruit to be included in your diet plan. The low-energy-density food helps provide larger portions for fewer calories.


Raspberries make you feel fuller for long as high-fiber foods take more time to get digested. The insoluble fiber helps keep the body regular and the soluble fiber is known to lower blood cholesterol, which also promotes weight loss.


Red raspberry is available in non-standardized and standardized liquid extracts either with water or alcohol, Red raspberry is also available in tinctures and solid extracts such as capsules and tablets.