Superfood of the Week: Raspberries

Photo by sarae.

As soon as I think of raspberries I’m transported to a late summer day lying inside a raspberry patch in my old garden in Portland, Oregon. I think the best berries come from the Pacific Northwest, which makes me a little sad because I can’t eat average raspberries anymore.

If you are fortunate enough to stumble upon a raspberry patch or find some good wild ones at the market, savor them fresh. They’re really good for you.

• They’re loaded with vitamin C and manganese. 1 cup will give you about half your daily value of each. Freezing will significantly reduce the vitamin C.
• They’re high in anthocyanin flavonoids, giving them an antioxidant punch.
• High in ellagic acid (endorsed by the American Cancer Association) which fights cancer and is often found in supplements. 

Raspberry leaves, known to herbalists as Rubus idaeus, have their own set of delights 

• High in magnesium and great for cramps, and sore muscles
• Adaptogenic to uterine muscles.  Will both relax (due to effects on calcium and magnesium) and contract due to the astringent effect of the tannins.
• Tea can helpful in early stages of diarrhea, again because of the tannins.

Enjoy the spoils of the end of summer: raspberries!

Dr. Nishant Rao is a co-founder of WellWire.com. He is a well-traveled naturopathic doctor and new father, practicing an integrative approach to create wellness in and around Los Angeles. Become a patient or discover his practice.