Red Raspberries

Red Raspberries

  • Fresh season typically June 15th through July 20th
  • Medium sized (3.0g – 5.0g) red berry with a small seed and a hollow core.

Source: Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission


Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), Anthocyanin, and Ellagic Acid Values

Curative aspects of the red raspberry have been of botanical interest since somewhere around 4 A.D. The leaves were made into teas and various parts of the plant were used for throat gargles, morning sickness remedies, digestive cures and the like. Today, new research suggests that eating red raspberries may prevent cancer by inhibiting the abnormal division of cells and promoting the normal death of healthy cells. Tests conducted at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina have revealed that the human body readily absorbs the ellagic acid from red raspberries. This ellagic acid has been clinically shown to cause apoptosis (cell death) in certain
cancer cells.

Among several significant phytochemicals, red raspberries contain ellagic acid, a phenolic compound that has exhibited anti-carcinogenic effects against a wide range of carcinogens in several tissues. Ellagic acid contributes to significant inhibition of colon, esophageal, liver, lung, tongue, and skin cancers in studies with rats and mice, both in vitro and in vivo. By the same token, quercetin, one of the flavanols found in raspberries, has been found to be an effective anticarcinogen against skin, colon, and mammary cancers in rodents. Anthocyanins are also prevalent in red raspberries, working as antioxidants that protect against heart disease and age-related mental decline. What is interesting to note is the superior efficacy of eating red raspberries as opposed to taking the individual phytochemicals in the form of dietary supplements. Though we do not yet fully comprehend why this is so, it is clear the nutraceutical whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Source: Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission

  
  1. The ORACfl (umoleTE/g) analysis, which utilizes Fluorescein as the fluorescent probe, provides a measure of the scavenging capacity of antioxidants against the peroxyl radical, which is one of the most common reactive oxygen species (ROS) found in the body.
  2. Trolox, a water-soluable Vitamin E analog, is used as the calibration standard and the ORAC result is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent (TE) per gram.


Other Nutraceutical Values of Red Rapsberries

    Red Raspberry
  Anthocyanins   20-65 mg/100 g
  Ellagic Acid   3.39 mg/g dry wt
  ORAC   24 umole TE/g
  Salicylic Acid   5 mg/100g
  Quercetin   12 mg/100g
  Catechins   83 mg/100g

Source: Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission


Health Benefits

Red Raspberries contain strong antioxidants such as Vitamin C, quercetin and gallic acid that fight against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age-related decline. They are high in ellagic acid, a known chemopreventative, and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Red raspberry ketones are currently being used in Japan as a weight loss supplement. Red raspberry seed oil is creating market interest in the cosmeceutical industry because it is rich in Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acid and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 24-50.

  • High in polyphenolic compounds known for their anti-cancer properties.
  • Contain strong antioxidants such as Vitamin C, quercetin and gallic acid.
  • Have a high ORAC level – ORAC is a measure of the antioxidant capacity of a substance. Red raspberries with an ORAC of 24 µmole/TE/g are similar to blueberries, well known for their antioxidant values.
  • Raspberries have been shown to inhibit the production of COX-I and COX-II enzymes. Anti inflammatory products like ibuprofen and aspirin, inhibit COX-I and COX-II resulting in the reduction of pain associated with arthritis, gout and other inflammatory conditions.
  • Eating whole berries has been shown in scientific studies to be more beneficial than taking the individual phytochemicals in the form of dietary supplements.
  • Red raspberry oil is creating interest in the cosmeceutical market (skin care products which provide health benefits). The oil from raspberry seeds is rich in Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 25-50.
  • Red raspberry ketones are currently being used in Japan as a weight loss supplement in a pill form and as an external patch.

Source: Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission

 

Typical Composition and Nutrition Values of Red Raspberries

(based on major types of packs)

  Amount in 100g
Block Frozen
  IQF
  Puree
  Juice Concentrate
  Brix ( Brix)
10.6-13.0  
9.8-11.8  
10.5-18.0  
45.65-68  
  Calories (Kcal)
40.60  
72.54  
60.11  
242.40  
  Calories from fat (Kcal)
0.36  
0.14  
0.63  
0.90  
  Nutrients
  Lipids (g)
0.04  
  0.02  
  0.07  
0.10  
  Total Carbohydrates (g)
9.18  
16.75  
14.12  
57.90  
     Dietary Fiber (g)
1.35  
1.68  
2.17  
0.16  
     Sugar (g)
4.97  
5.15  
4.44  
46.85  
  Protein (g)
0.88  
1.35  
0.75  
3.34  
  Vitamin A (IU)
50.00  
38.00  
<30.00  
n/a  
  Vitamin C (mg)
17.54  
2.38  
1.47  
2.40  
  Calcium (mg)
4.99  
32.00  
21.00  
83.00  
  Iron (mg)
0.38  
1.35  
  031  
1.50  
  Sodium (mg)
0.54  
0.51  
1.30  
65.00  

 Source: Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission

 

Nutritional Profile of Red Raspberries (Rubus spp.)

(Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference)

Nutrients 1 cup fresh 1 cup canned, heavy syrup packed 1 cup unthawed, sweetened frozen
Weight 123 grams 256 grams 250 grams
Calories 64 233 258
Protein 1.48 grams 2.12 grams 1.75 grams
Lipid (fat) .80 grams 0.31 grams 0.40 grams
Carbohydrate, by difference 14.69 grams 59.80 grams 65.40 grams
Fiber, total dietary 8.0 grams 8.4 grams 11.0 grams
Sugars, total 5.44 grams 51.35 grams 54.40 grams
Sucrose .25 grams    
Glucose (dextrose) 2.29 grams    
Fructose 2.89 grams    
Calcium 31 mg 28 mg 38 mg
Iron 0.85 mg 1.08 mg 1.62 mg
Magnesium 27 mg 31 mg 32 mg
Phosphorus 36 mg 23 mg 42 mg
Potassium 186 mg 241 mg 285 mg
Sodium 1 mg 8 mg 2 mg
Zinc 0.52 mg 0.41 mg 0.46 mg
Copper 0.111 mg 0.146 mg 0.263 mg
Manganese 0.824 mg 0.596 mg 1.625 mg
Selenium 0.2 mcg 0.3 mcg 0.8 mcg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid 32.2 mg 22.3 mg 41.2 mg
Thiamin 0.039 mg 0.051 mg 0.048 mg
Riboflavin 0.047 mg 0.079 mg 0.113 mg
Niacin 0.736 mg 1.134 mg 0.575 mg
Pantothenic acid 0.405 mg 0.627 mg 0.375 mg
Vitamin B-6 0.068 mg 0.108 mg 0.085 mg
Folate, total 26 mcg 28 mcg 65 mcg
Folate, food 26 mcg 28 mcg 65 mcg
Folate, DFE 26 mcg_DFE 28 mcg_DFE 65 mcg_DFE
Vitamin A, IU 41 IU 84 IU 150 IU
Vitamin A, RAE 2 mcg_RAE 6 mcg_RAE 8 mcg_RAE
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 1.07 mg 1.51 mg 1.80 mg
Tocopherol, beta 0.07 mg    
Tocopherol, gamma 1.75 mg    
Tocopherol, delta 1.28 mg    
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 9.6 mcg 13.3 mcg 16. 3 mcg