Nature’s candy in a nutritionally perfect package, raspberries may be only be little, but they boast serious skin-boosting levels of vitamin C and other antioxidants called anthocyanins and quercetin.
Together, they help to keep your skin strong, smooth and youthful, and may even aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Dietary antioxidants are incredibly important for your health, and are even being acknowledged by Western medicine as playing a crucial role. Some are made in your body, but many are not, and production begins to decline with advancing age.
But what are antioxidants? Antioxidants are a type of molecule that have the ability to inhibit the oxidation of another molecule. Antioxidants basically mop up the free radicals circulating your system, helping to lessen the cellular damage that they can cause. They donate their own electrons and are nature’s very own defence mechanism against attack.
They may significantly slow down the speed at which you age, meaning that a regular supply in your diet is of optimal importance for your skin’s health.
Raspberries are also an excellent source of flavonoids.These are dietary compounds that belong to the class of phytochemicals (plant chemicals). Science has discovered over five thousand kinds of flavonoids, often with hundreds of different types present in one item of food, and each with different properties, which often contribute to the foods colour. They prevent inflammation throughout your body, enhance the power of vitamin C in foods and can help to prevent blood vessels from rupturing.
Picking up colds and infections regularly could be a sign that you need to eat more flavonoid foods.
In terms of your skin’s health, flavonoids are delivered via your bloodstream to your skin, where they have the ability to protect your cells from oxidative damage, absorb ultraviolet light and protect your skin from sun damage, as well as minimise the inflammation and damage caused by sunburn. The help to repair your DNA, reduce oxidative damage and improve your immunity too.
Look out for good-quality frozen berries when fresh aren’t as easily available, as they’re a brilliant addition to smoothies. But raspberries work well in everything from pancakes to porridge and muffins. In fact, Raspberry and vanilla are one of my favourite flavour combinations, and they taste great together in these healthier raspberry muffins.
I would love to know if you get a chance to make these raspberry and vanilla muffins! Simply tag #RosannaDavisonNutrition on Instagram or Twitter or come on over to my Facebook to say hello 🙂