7/09/2017

Interesting Facts About Raisins

Did you know that green grapes are the ones commonly used for raisins?
Who doesn’t love raisins? These sweet and juicy treats can make everything better, whether embedded in creamy loaves of bread or eaten on their own.  But did you know that raisins were actually discovered by accident?  History reveals that the first raisins were discovered back in 2000 BC when grapes were accidentaly left to dry in the sun. Ever since then, early civilizations have popularized the use of grapes in its dried form.

Nowadays, raisins are something that are enjoyed by everyone. Especially for people wanting to live a healthy lifestyle, raisins are good sources of nutrients while also being delicious and filling. But there is more to this food than what we think. For example, did you know that the most commonly used grapes for raisins are the Thompson Green Grapes?

Moreover, these dried, sweet bits are also rich in electrolytes, particularly potassium which helps counter hypertension.

About Thompson Grapes
 All dark brown raisins are specifically made from this variety, because they are softer and sweeter than other grapes. Though they are popularly used as raisins, Thompson grapes can also be used as a normal table grape because of their sweetness, firmness, and crispness when fresh.

Contrary to popular belief that most raisins are made from red grapes, Thompson grapes ranks as the most popular variety in the U.S and in North America where it accounts to 95 percent of grapes produced in the continent.

 Thompson Grapes: The benefits
Thompson grapes are very high in carbohydrates and low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Crunchy and rich in vitamins K and C when fresh, this variety is also rich in resveratrol that helps provide antioxidants, dietary fiber, and phytonutrients when dried.

 The health benefits of raisins, especially for people who want to pursue a healthier lifestyle, make them a perfect addition to the diet of health-conscious people. It’s no wonder that raisins made from Thompson Grapes quickly grew in popularity amongst creative food enthusiasts. Many use raisins as ingredients for desserts, even as add-ons to breakfast cereals and other treats. The best pairing so far are raisins on bread. When used together with healthy food like wheat bread, you get a meal that checks all the factors any health buff would have on his or her checklist.

The vitamins in Thompson grapes help boost the immune system and improve the body’s blood clotting mechanism. When turned into raisins, resveratrol can assist in reducing the risk of stroke and in strengthening blood vessels. Studies also suggest that resveratrol helps the body get protective action against Alzheimer’s disease, coronary heart disease, and even forms of cancer like melanoma, prostate, and colon cancer.

 Living healthy can be easy, especially if you know the right foods to include in your diet. Gardenia’s High Fiber Wheat Raisin Loaf makes it easy by turning to an eating habit that can help your overall health.

Adding raisins on wheat bread adds just the right amount of flavour to make deliciously healthy bread. That is precisely what Gardenia High Fiber Wheat Raisin Loaf provides: all the health benefits of raisins made from Thompson Grapes, and the fiber goodness of all-natural cracked wheat. One slice of this variety gives you 29 percent of your daily dietary fiber needs, and helps improve digestive health by improving bowel movement. Moreover, soluble fiber also aids in lowering levels of “bad” cholesterol by moving them out of the body before they’re absorbed which helps, of course to reduce weight around the abdomen.  

1 comment:

  1. I never knew which grapes were used to make raisins and I found this article interesting.

    ReplyDelete