Discover the benefits of raisins on a vegetarian diet

From oatmeal and raisin cookies to Moroccan tagine, we love incorporating raisins into our favourite recipes. They’re also a great addition to your snack drawer for when cravings hit, as they’re easy to eat, taste delicious and are super heatlhy! To find out more about the health benefits of raisins for those on a plant-based diet, we spoke to the experts at California Raisins.

What are raisins?

Raisins are essentially dried grapes, and California Raisins are sun-dried in the hot Californian sun, so they’re wonderfully sweet. But are raisins good for you? The answer is yes!

They may be small, but raisins are packed with nutrients. Whether you eat them as a snack or incorporate them into recipes, California Raisins make a healthy addition to your diet as they’re completely natural. When enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, raisins can help you maintain a healthy body weight and a healthy heart. This, in turn, can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases, and can even boost your mood and mental health!

What are the health benefits of eating raisins?

Raisins are packed with nutrients and vitamins that are key to good health, including fibre and potassium. Fibre is known to aid digestion, while potassium is important for the normal functioning of our cells. That’s not all though, because raisins are also a good source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C and E as well as calcium, zinc and iron, which plays an essential role in producing white blood cells.

Raisins are a great gut health food

In order to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in our gut, it’s recommended that we incorporate a variety of food into our diet, and raisins are ideal for this. They’re a good source of fibre, which helps to aid digestion. What’s more, studies show that incorporating raisins into your diet can improve bowel movements and reduce the amount of potentially harmful bacteria in the gut.

California Raisins are 100% natural

California Raisins are sun-dried with no added preservatives. That means that they’re naturally sweet while also being high in sugar and calories. That said, these natural sugars make them a great alternative to foods made with artificial sweeteners. So next time you’re craving something sweet, opt for a handful of raisins instead of reaching for a chocolate bar!

They’re easy to eat

One of the many wonderful things about raisins is that they can be eaten or cooked with just the way they are! So while they make a wonderful snack, raisins can also be incorporated into sweet and savoury dishes. From raisin bread, scones and oatmeal cookies, to your morning porridge or evening curry, why not add a handful of raisins to your favourite recipe for a nutritional and tasty twist?

California Raisins help keep your body fit and healthy. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. To find out more about California Raisins, visit californiaraisins.co.uk