Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) has been used since antiquity for its powerful healing properties. Anyone who has tasted a raspberry knows this sweet and tart berry can be a tasty way to get antioxidants and fibre into their diet. You may have even seen the leaves in herbal tea form at your local health store. With all the exotic super food berries out there, you may be wondering what the red raspberry has to offer. Read on to find out all about the antioxidant, protective benefits of this humble berry.
THE HISTORY: A member of the Rosaceae family along with roses, apples, cherries, and almonds; raspberries also have many skincare benefits like their neighbouring cousins. Native to both North America and Europe, the raspberry has been cultivated in most temperate regions and has been renowned for their many uses throughout the ages. The leaves have extensive use in folk medicine and modern western herbal medicine, often being used as a uterine tonic during the last stages of pregnancy. The berries have been a prized food staple in many cultures, and even the stalks have been used to make paper. More recently the cold pressed seed oil has shown promise as an antioxidant and protective cosmetic ingredient.
THE CONTENT:
- The leaves of the red raspberry contain many health promoting substances like tannins, polypeptides, and flavonoids.
- Exceptionally rich in alpha and gamma tocopherols(Vitamin E), the seed oil also contains alpha linoleac acid, an anti-inflammatory essential omega-3 fatty acid. It also ranks very high on the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale, which measures a substances antioxidant capacity.*
- The raspberry itself is rich in Vitamin C and anthocyanins, the dark pigmented compounds made famous by acai and blueberries.
THE BENEFITS:
- Red Raspberries are a great way to get Vitamin C, magnesium, and highly antioxidant anthocyanins into your diet. These help protect cells and repair damage done by free radicals.
- Red Raspberry Leaf is mildly astringent and toning on the skin. The tannins in red raspberry leaves may help stimulate skin regeneration, as well as tighten the surface of the skin.
- Red Raspberry Seed Oil is imbued an exceptionally high proportion of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as vitamin A and Vitamin E. Rich in specifically omega-3 alpha linolenic acid, it may be very beneficial for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. A study done in 2000 also gave evidence that one of the properties of Red Raspberry Seed Oil was that it showed absorbance in the UVB and UVC rays, which suggests that it may be useful as a broad spectrum UV protectant.**
THE PRODUCT: You can find organic raspberry leaf in One Love Organics Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster. Look for organic Red Raspberry seed oil in every product made by Intelligent Nutrients. We especially love the Certified Organic Anti-Ageing Serum! Red Raspberry is an excellent ingredient for those looking for high levels of protection against environmental aggressors and defense against UV damage. It offers many skin benefits, both when taken internally and applied to the skin. Next time you whizz up a breakfast smoothie with raspberries, take a moment to remember what a powerful beauty aid this humble little berry really is.
REFERENCES:
*Bushman S.B., Phillips B., Isbell T., Ou B., Crane J.M., Knapp S.J., 2004. Chemical composition of Caneberry (Rubus spp.) seeds and oils and their antioxidant potential. J. Agric. Food Chem. 52, 7982-7987.
**Characteristics of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) seed oil B. Dave Oomah, Stephanie Ladet, David V. Godfrey, Jun Liang, Benoit Girard Food Chemistry 01/2000; 69:187-193.
