Raspberries have anti-inflammatory activity and strong antioxidant properties, according to the Berry Health Benefits Network, an organization associated with Oregon State University. A small amount of animal research indicates that a component of raspberry also may have benefits for weight loss, which has led some supplement manufacturers to include raspberry in herbal diet pills. Consult your doctor before taking weight loss supplements.
Components
Antioxidants in raspberries include vitamin C, anthocyanins, gallic acid and quercetin, which have anti-aging activity and protective effects against cardiovascular disease and cancer, reports the Berry Health Benefits Network. Raspberries may inhibit abnormal division of cells involved in cancer and cause cell death in certain types of cancer cells. Animal research shows quercetin to be effective against colon, breast and skin cancer.
Considerations
For antioxidant effects, eating raspberries is more effective than taking the individual components as dietary supplements, explains Berry Health Benefits Network. Of the different types of raspberries, black raspberry has the highest oxidant scavenging capacity. Eating whole raspberries may not be more effective for weight loss than raspberry-derived supplements, however.
Chemistry
A study conducted by the Ehime University School of Medicine in Japan and published in the May 27, 2005 issue of "Life Sciences" explains that raspberry ketone may be responsible for anti-obesity actions of raspberry. This compound is responsible for the aroma of raspberry, and has a similar chemical structure to that of capsaicin and synephrine, both of which accelerate conversion of fat to energy. The component capsaicin is the reason chili peppers have a hot flavor. Synephrine, which occurs in bitter orange, has stimulant effects similar to ephedrine.
Animal Research
During the Ehime University study, researchers fed mice a high-fat diet including various percentages of raspberry ketone. Raspberry ketone prevented increases in body weight as well as increases of fat in the liver and other organs. In mice eating a high-fat diet without raspberry ketone, then later eating the supplement, raspberry ketone decreased weight and liver fat content caused by the previous high-fat diet without supplementation.
Availability
In Japan, red raspberry ketone is promoted as a weight loss supplement, notes the Berry Health Benefits Network. You can buy raspberry ketone powder in the United States, with a one-scoop serving providing 500 mg of the active component. Some supplement manufacturers combine raspberry with other herbal ingredients, and list raspberry as a fat-burning component. Some websites that sell raspberry ketone supplements link to the Ehime University study.
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