There’s a reason why grandmas were always telling us to eat almonds to improve our memory, or to include raisins and dates in our cereals. Dried fruits are traditionally known for being loaded with nutrients that do fantastic things for our health.
Keep in mind that fruit contains an important amount of natural sugars, so when the water is removed from dried fruit, the sugar is concentrated in a smaller mass. For this reason, they are high in calories and sugar, and should be eaten in moderation and preferably along with other nutritious foods. They are not perfect, but they certainly are a much healthier snack than chips or other junk foods.
Having said that, let’s talk about their incredible health and beauty benefits.
Heart health
Dried foods like almonds and Brazil nuts are high in monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and elements like calcium, magnesium, and potassium that help regulate blood pressure and maintain healthy cholesterol levels; as a result, they help reduce the risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
Cancer-fighting properties
The high content of selenium, melatonin, ellagic and omega 3 fatty acids contained in dried fruits like raisins, walnuts, and Brazil nuts intensify the effect of antioxidants, resulting in an inhibition of cell growth, reducing the proliferation of cancer cells and the formation of malignant tumors.
Skin beauty
Antioxidants are our skin’s best friends, and dried fruits are an excellent source of them. For example, phenols, a type of antioxidant, are more abundant in figs and dates than in some fresh fruits.
Other dried foods like walnuts are also rich in B-vitamins that fight free radical damage, preventing premature signs of aging. This wrap up the skin beauty benefits dried foods have.
Brain brightness
The antioxidants, acids and other elements we’ve just talked about are neuroprotective compounds that help to enhance cognitive function. They also help in fighting stress, promoting a sense of calm and tranquility.
Walnuts are rich in flavonoids which help destroy harmful free radicals that can cause dementia.
Digestion easiness
Dried fruits like dates and raisins are high in fiber which promotes digestion and relieves constipation. They generally contain more fiber than the same-sized serving of their fresh versions.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, fiber also helps prevent heart diseases, obesity and some forms of cancer.
Energy boost
We talked about how dried fruits are high in sugars; well, all that extra glucose, sucrose and fructose are excellent for an instant energy boost. They help revitalize the body quickly, at the same time of giving it a high dose of nutrients.