dried fruit | Health Topics | NutritionFacts.org

28 videos

Topic summary contributed by volunteer(s): Jordan

Dried fruits such as currants, cranberries and prunes offer health benefits. While fresh fruits such as blueberries are the go-to for antioxidant power, dried fruits and herbs such as Goji berries, Dragon fruit, Indian gooseberries and peppermint may provide higher antioxidant activity.

Studies suggest that certain dried fruits may help fight cancer, cholesterol and insomnia. Daily dried apple consumption may promote cardiovascular health, and raisins are associated with a lower risk of premature birth and increased satiety levels in children, which could help with weight management.

Indian gooseberries (amla) may be the highest antioxidant snack on earth. It may also help with diabetes and lower cholesterol.

Avoid sulfites by choosing organic dried fruit. Although Amla has not been found to be contaminated with heavy metals, other fruit-based ayervedic supplements like triphala have.

The information on this page has been compiled from the research presented in the videos listed. Sources for each video can be found by going to the video’s page and clicking on the Sources Cited tab.

Image Credit: Pixabay. This image has been modified.

All Videos for Dried Fruit

How to Treat Jet Lag with Melatonin-Rich Food

How to Treat Jet Lag with Melatonin-Rich Food

There may be a way to get the benefits of over-the-counter melatonin supplements without the risk.

Lycopene Supplements vs. Prostate Cancer

Lycopene Supplements vs. Prostate Cancer

High doses of lycopene—the red pigment in tomatoes—were put to the test to see if it could prevent precancerous prostate lesions from turning into full-blown cancer.

Prunes for Osteoporosis

Prunes for Osteoporosis

Vegetables and fruit, such as dried plums, may help build stronger bones.

Do Raisins Cause Cavities?

Do Raisins Cause Cavities?

Dried fruit has long been thought to contribute to tooth decay, but what does the science say?

Treating Acne with Barberries

Treating Acne with Barberries

What happens when the most antioxidant-packed dried fruit available is put to the test in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial for moderate to severe acne?

Food as Medicine

Food as Medicine: Preventing and Treating the Most Dreaded Diseases with Diet

Dr. Greger has scoured the world’s scholarly literature on clinical nutrition and developed this new presentation based on the latest in cutting edge research exploring the role diet may play in preventing, arresting, and even reversing some of our most feared causes of death and disability.

The Safety of Heme vs. Non-Heme Iron

Heme iron, the type found predominantly in blood and muscle, is absorbed better than the non-heme iron that predominates in plants, but may increase the risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome.

Bowel Wars: Hydrogen Sulfide vs. Butyrate

Bowel Wars: Hydrogen Sulfide vs. Butyrate

Sulfur dioxide preservatives in dried fruit, sulfites in wine, and the putrefaction of undigested animal protein in the colon can release hydrogen sulfide, the rotten egg gas associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

Are Raisins Good Snacks for Kids?

Are Raisins Good Snacks for Kids?

The California Raisin Marketing Board need not have funded such misleading studies, given the healthfulness of their product.

Turmeric Curcumin and Pancreatic Cancer

Turmeric Curcumin & Pancreatic Cancer

Carcinogens in grilled and baked chicken may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, while curcumin, the yellow pigment in the spice turmeric, may sometimes help even in advanced stages of the disease.

Garlic and Raisins to Prevent Premature Birth

Garlic & Raisins to Prevent Premature Birth

Consumption of even small amounts of garlic or raisins are associated with significantly lower risk of pregnant women going into premature labor or having their water break too soon.

Tart Cherries for Insomnia

The melatonin content in certain plant foods such as almonds, raspberries, and goji berries may explain the improvement in sleep quality associated with tart cherry consumption.

More than an Apple a Day: Preventing the Most Common Diseases

Dr. Greger has scoured the world’s scholarly literature on clinical nutrition, and developed this brand-new live presentation on the latest in cutting-edge research on how a healthy diet can affect some of our most common medical conditions.

Cranberries vs. Cancer

Drug companies and supplement manufacturers have yet to isolate the components of cranberries that suppress cancer cell growth.

Do Fruit & Nut Bars Cause Weight Gain?

Despite the caloric density of both nuts and dried fruit, they do not appear to lead to the expected weight gain.

Prunes vs. Metamucil vs. Vegan Diet

The average number of bowel movements a week is compared between those eating prunes, those taking a fiber supplement, and those eating a strictly plant-based diet.

Dried Apples, Dates, Figs, or Prunes for Cholesterol?

A comparison of the cholesterol-lowering potential of four dried fruits—apples, dates, figs, and plums.

Herbal Tea Update: Rooibos & Nettle

Rooibos (red) tea may reduce stress levels by suppressing adrenal gland function. Nettle tea is mineral-rich, but may have estrogenic side effects.

Apple Skin: Peeling Back Cancer

Apple peels appear to upregulate the tumor suppressor gene maspin, and have strong antiproliferative effects on breast and prostate cancer cell growth in vitro.

Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death

Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death

Death in America is largely a foodborne illness. Focusing on studies published just over the last year in peer-reviewed scientific medical journals, Dr. Greger offers practical advice on how best to feed ourselves and our families to prevent, treat, and even reverse many of the top 15 killers in the United States.

Dragon’s Blood

The four most antioxidant-packed natural substances so far tested are cloves, amla (Indian gooseberries), triphala (a combination of amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki fruits), and dragon’s blood.

Amla and triphala tested for metals

Amla & Triphala Tested for Metals

Both U.S.-made and imported Ayurvedic dietary supplements have high contamination rates of toxic metals such as mercury—though only a small fraction of the levels found in canned tuna.

Some Ayurvedic medicine worse than lead paint exposure

Some Ayurvedic Medicine Worse than Lead Paint Exposure

Triphala, a combination of three fruits—amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki—is the most commonly used herbal formulation in Ayurvedic medicine, and may have powerful anticancer properties. Unfortunately, one in five Ayurvedic herbal dietary supplements were found contaminated with lead, mercury, and/or arsenic.

A Better Breakfast

A Better Breakfast

The antioxidant power of American breakfast fare is compared to a smoothie that contains berries, white tea leaves, and Indian gooseberry (amla) powder.

Antioxidants in a pinch

Antioxidants in a Pinch

Some herbs and spices—including cinnamon, cloves, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, and peppermint—are so rich in antioxidants that just a small pinch can go a long way.

Amla versus diabetes

Amla vs. Diabetes

For a dollar a month, Indian gooseberry (amla) powder may work as well as a leading diabetes drug—without the side effects.

Better than goji berries

Better than Goji Berries

There are some dried fruits even more antioxidant-packed than goji berries.

Dried Apples versus Cholesterol

Dried Apples vs. Cholesterol

Which common dried fruit is the most antioxidant-packed: apple rings, dried apricots, dried cherries, dried mango, prunes, or raisins?

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