Red raspberries are rich in minerals and vitamins and they are low in calories. In addition, the natural phenolic compounds in red raspberry have the potential to reduce obesity.
Raspberry ketones are natural phenolic compounds that, among other things, give raspberry its flavor. Experts in nutrition at University of Seoul conducted the study in which they fed male mice with fatty food and raspberry ketones.
Although it was expected that the mice gain weight that was not the case, and scientists believe the main reason for this are raspberry ketones. Korean experts believe that raspberry ketones have great potential as an herbal remedy for obesity because of their biological activity which alters lipid metabolism. The effectiveness of raspberry ketones is the result of increased secretion of adiponectin, a hormone that participates in preventing of the formation of fatty deposits. Adiponectin is a protein that the body uses to regulate the metabolism.
Soothe the inflammation
Raspberries contain plenty of hydroxybenzoic acids, anthocyanins, resveratrol and flavonols such as quercetin and kaempferol. Most of these phytonutrients preserve cell health, protect cells from damage and regulate inflammatory enzymes. By reducing inflammation, raspberries reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The ellagic acid is particularly important, it is a kind of hydroxybenzoic acid and it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties
The anticancer properties
In recent years, raspberries have become interesting for compounds that have anti-cancer properties. At first the key anti-cancer ingredients were nutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies on breast cancer, esophagus cancer, colon and uterus cancer showed that these nutrients significantly reduce oxidative stress, and soothe the inflammation, thus hindering the development and reproduction of cancer cells. Recent studies have indicated further action of phytonutrients in raspberry. It seems that ellagitannin, a nutrient similar to ellagic acid, prevents the conversion of normal cells into malignant. Ellagitannin sends a signal to cells that are already cancerous and encourage them to apoptosis, or in simplified vocabulary – to self-destruct. Raspberry species Rubus rosifolius, which grows in the Americas, Australia and East Asia, has the greatest effect in terms of reducing the number of malignant cells. According to research published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, this type of raspberries has a different photochemistry and biological activity of all other species. The researchers found that extracts of Rubus rosifolius inhibit cell growth of lung cancer by 54%, colon cancer by 50% and stomach cancer by 37%.
More mature is better
Maturity of raspberry is also an important factor. According to research published in the journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, red raspberries are the most medicinal when they are fully ripe. The total level of anthocyanins in all kinds of raspberries grows in direct proportion to maturity.