Discover the benefits of raisins, according to a dietitian.

Plus, five healthy recipes to try, all using raisins in creative ways.

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Ripe, juicy grapes have a home in many healthy eaters crisper year-round.

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registered dietitian nutritionist and author ofCollagen: Self-Care Secrets to Eat, Drink, and Glow

But, more importantly, is there a downside to eating raisins to keep in mind?

Theyre the same fruit, just dehydrated.

She explains that the major difference is that obviously grapes have much more water than grapes.

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Without the water content, the nutrients become much more concentrated, Bippen says.

It also means the sugar becomes more concentrated, so its important to be aware of that as well.

And serves as yet another reminder to always read your nutrition labels whenever possible.

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Theyre full of antioxidants

Just like grapes, raisins are a good source of antioxidants, Bippen says.

This is because they are high in a specific jot down of antioxidants called polyphenols.

Whats even better news is that raisins and heart health essentially go hand in hand.

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

registered dietitian nutritionist and author ofCollagen: Self-Care Secrets to Eat, Drink, and Glow

Iron helps with blood flow, she says, which directly benefits the cardiovascular system.

For this reason, raisins are a great ingredient to incorporate into a pre-workout snack.

(You want to aim to get between1,000 milligrams and 1,200 milligramsof calcium a day.)

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Yet another reason why theyre good to stash in your gym bag!

(You want to aim to get between25 grams and 28 grams a day.)

Fiber is one of the most important nutrients for the body, helping tolower inflammationas well asboosting gut health.

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And, of course, there are tons of otherhigh fiber foodsyou can also add into the mix.

(Eveneating too much fruitat onceisntalways the solution.)

So, how many raisins to eat per day?

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A good serving size would be a handful, she says.

The protein and healthy fats in nuts helps keep blood sugar levels steady, she says.

It also makes it a more satiating snack.

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But that can get old fast.

Its also one of the easiest because theres no cooking required.

If youre looking for a blueprint to follow, this is a good one to try.

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Besides raisins and nuts, it also has pumpkin seedsso seasonal right now!

Get the recipe:Healthy Trail Mix

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Get the recipe:Banana Oatmeal Raisin Muffins

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Get the recipe:Carrot, Raisin, and Pineapple Salad

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Another bonus to including the cinnamon is that its one of the bestanti-inflammatory spices.

Get the recipe:Cinnamon Raisin Chicken with Caramelized Onions

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In this recipe bySimple Awesome Cooking, the raisins and turmeric are two core ingredients in this couscous dish.

Almonds are also included, which ups the protein.

Enjoy it as a side dish or add more proteinsuch as chicken or tofuand serve it as an entree.

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