raspberries - Blog - Macedonian Honey

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 provide nutrition at the same time.

A cup of fresh raspberries contains about 1.5 g of protein, 8 g of dietary fiber, and 14.7 g of carbohydrates. Cholesterol-free, low in fat and sodium, and weighing in at a modest 64 calories per cup, raspberries are a good choice for dieters. The generous amount of fiber they provide (with one cup supplying one-third of the daily recommended value for adults) can help speed elimination and possibly promote weight loss; their natural sweetness may satisfy cravings for less wholesome foods.

A cup of fresh raspberries contains high levels of assorted vitamins and minerals needed for healthy body functions, including 186 mg of potassium, necessary for maintaining healthy blood pressure; 31 mg of calcium, needed for bone development and growth; and 167 combined mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin. This pair of carotinoids (or plant pigments) can help protect against macular degeneration, an eye disease that can cause loss of vision. The same cup of raspberries also offers up 26 mcg of folate, which can prevent neural tube defects in newborns.