Fascinating history and health benefits of raspberries

What would summer be without plump raspberries? One cannot deny their wonderful taste, sweet aroma, and enticing colour. However, not everyone is aware of the long history these fruits have. It turns out that the raspberry is one of the oldest plants known to humanity. It has been used for food and medicinal purposes for centuries. This alone should be a reason to consume raspberries as often as possible.

Raspberries have long been valued for their health-promoting properties. Even the ancients prepared raspberry juices that helped with infections and neurosis. In our folk tradition, raspberries were considered a remedy for anemia. Today, raspberry syrups are often used for colds, but it's worth noting that these fruits have a much broader range of benefits.

Raspberries are rich in various nutrients. They primarily contain sugars, pectins, and organic acids such as salicylic, malic, and citric acids. Additionally, raspberries are an abundant source of vitamins, including B vitamins, as well as vitamins C and E. Moreover, these fruits are a rich source of minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium.

Not only are raspberry fruits valuable for our bodies, but also the leaves of these plants. They are rich in mineral salts, organic acids, flavonoids, resin compounds, and tannins. Crushed raspberry flowers were used as a natural remedy for swollen and purulent eyes. Water obtained from boiling raspberry leaves was used to wash areas of the skin that had undergone pathological changes.

The presence of salicylic and benzoic acids makes raspberries considered a natural aspirin. These fruits possess anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Raspberry syrup or juice has long been valued for its health-boosting and immune-strengthening properties and is often prepared as a home remedy for various ailments, such as colds or flu. Raspberries can also lower blood pressure, making them a recommended fruit for people with hypertension and other cardiovascular issues.

Raspberries can stimulate the process of detoxifying the body and speed up the digestion of food, which can prevent constipation and bloating. Additionally, scientific studies suggest that consuming raspberries can help burn fat tissue, possibly due to raspberry ketone.

"Research conducted on rats suggests that this ketone may inhibit the growth of subcutaneous fat tissue. Other studies indicate a beneficial effect on lipolysis (the breakdown of triglycerides in fat tissue) and the secretion of adiponectin, which affects a range of metabolic processes, including those related to the metabolism of glucose and fatty acids," - indicates the National Centre for Nutrition Education.

The National Centre for Nutrition Education emphasizes, however, that there is still too little research to consider raspberry ketone an effective weapon in the fight against overweight and obesity.