Raisins are one of the dried fruits that are best not given to children before they reach 18 months of age, to ensure that they are eaten safely and avoid the risk of them getting stuck in their mouths. Raisins provide many health benefits for children, and in the following lines, we will review together the benefits of raisins and the harms of overeating them according to Dalili Medical.

What are raisins or dried grapes?

 

Raisins are grapes that have been dried either under the sun or using fruit and vegetable dryers. Although raisins and fresh grapes share the same nutritional content, the nutrients in raisins are more concentrated, including calories, vitamins and minerals. Thanks to their delicious taste, raisins are used in many dishes such as cookies, muffins, and chocolate, and some add them to salads and other foods. It is important to eat raisins in moderation due to their high calorie content. People who need to increase the level of sugar in their diet are advised to eat a handful of raisins to meet their sugar needs, in addition to benefiting from the vitamins, minerals and fiber in them.

**Calories and nutritional value of raisins**

 

Raisins are considered a food rich in nutritional value, which prompts many mothers to offer them to their children and search for ways to eat them.

**First: Calories**

The total calories in raisins are 335.78 calories.

- Calories from carbohydrates: 318.8 calories.

- Calories from fat: 4.14 calories.

- Calories from protein: 13.56 calories.

**Second: Nutritional value**

Raisins contain energy estimated at 302 calories.

Raisins also contain 3.39 grams of protein.

The percentage of fat in raisins is 0.46 grams.

As for carbohydrates, it reaches 79.52 grams.

In addition, raisins contain 53 mg of calcium.

It also contains 1.79 mg of iron.

Raisins also contain 12 mg of sodium.

Finally, raisins contain 3.2 mg of vitamin C.

They contain no cholesterol at all.

**Calories and sugar:** Like many dried fruits, raisins are high in calories. Half a cup of raisins contains 217 calories and 57.5 grams of carbohydrates. Therefore, it is important to monitor the amount of raisins consumed in the daily diet.

**Dietary fiber:** Half a cup of raisins provides 10-24% of the body's daily fiber needs. Fiber helps promote a feeling of fullness for a longer period of time, as it keeps food in the stomach for a longer period of time, and contributes to improving bowel movements and helps prevent constipation, in addition to its role in lowering harmful cholesterol levels in the blood.

**Iron:** Half a cup of raisins contains 7% of women's daily iron needs and 16% of men's needs. Iron plays an essential role in the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to various cells in the body.

**Calcium:** Half a cup of raisins provides about 4% of the daily requirement for calcium. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining healthy teeth and bones, and women are recommended to eat it daily to prevent osteoporosis.

**Boron:** Raisins contain small amounts of boron, which is essential for vitamin D and calcium to work in promoting bone health.

**Antioxidants:** Raisins contain natural antioxidants that help combat the effects of harmful oxidants, which may damage the body's cells and cause many chronic diseases.

**Benefits of raisins for children**

 

**Helps improve digestion**

Raisins are beneficial for children in terms of regulating the digestive process, as they contain a group of soluble and insoluble fibers that enhance digestion and help regulate bowel movements, which contributes to preventing constipation. Raisins also contain tartaric acid, which is characterized by its anti-inflammatory properties, which helps maintain the balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and promote their movement.

**Promotes heart health**

One of the important benefits of raisins for children is their role in promoting long-term heart health. They are rich in potassium, phenols, and tannins, and are considered low in sodium, which helps regulate blood pressure and prevent heart disease and strokes.

**Supports oral health**

Raisins are also beneficial for oral health, as they contain compounds with antibacterial properties, such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, which help regulate the acidity level in the mouth, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria or their adhesion to tooth surfaces.

Promotes the child's mental and physical development

Raisins are a rich source of essential nutrients that contribute to your child's growth and mental and physical development. They contain abundant amounts of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and iron. In addition, raisins are considered one of the foods that promote memory health and nourish the brain in children.

**Reducing the risk of constipation**

Raisins contain abundant amounts of dietary fiber that contribute to softening the intestines in children, which reduces the risk of constipation. Half a cup of raisins contains about 2 grams of fiber, which also promotes overall digestive health.

**Relieves fever**

It is recommended to give raisin-soaked water to children when they have a fever, thanks to its antimicrobial properties that help fight bacterial or viral infections that cause fever.

**Raisin fiber**

One of the most prominent benefits of raisins for infants is that they contain a large amount of fiber, which promotes the health of the child's intestines and improves the digestion process, which helps get rid of any constipation that the infant may suffer from. So, do not hesitate toIntroducing raisins to your baby.

Minerals

We are not exaggerating if we say that raisins are a rich source of minerals that are beneficial for infants, as they contain large amounts of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. If the child is provided with these minerals, he will certainly gain a strong and non-fragile body structure, in addition to enhancing his mental abilities. These minerals also enhance the child's immunity, which helps him maintain his health and protect him from diseases.

Strengthening the body

One of the benefits of raisins for infants is that they contribute to greatly enhancing the child's body strength and health. It is noted that fever is common among children, which may lead to their loss of appetite. But introducing raisins into their diet during this period can help them overcome fever and regain their health, making them stronger. Therefore, it is frequently recommended by doctors.

Increasing immunity

It is natural for your child to be susceptible to diseases and health problems. But eating raisins can greatly enhance his immunity. Raisins are effective in producing red blood cells in the body, which contributes to improving the child's overall health.

**Brain stimulant**

The benefits of raisins for infants are numerous, the most prominent of which is that it works as an effective brain stimulant. It is believed that eating raisins enhances the activity of the central nervous system in children, which helps them improve their general condition and increase their ability to distinguish and focus. Raisins are also a powerful stimulant for the child's memory, which contributes to making him an intelligent and observant child.

**Constipation treatment**

Raisins also help treat constipation in children by soaking raisins overnight and then giving the child soaked raisin water. This drink improves bowel movements and enhances the digestion process.

**Adjusting acidity levels**

Thanks to its richness in potassium and magnesium, raisins contribute to adjusting acidity levels in children's bodies. Increased acidity can lead to health problems such as tumors, heart disease, hair loss, and disorders of internal organs.

**Benefits of Black Raisins for Children**

Black raisins are considered more nutritionally valuable than yellow raisins, as they contain abundant amounts of flavonoids and anthocyanins. One of the most prominent benefits of black raisins is that they contain antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which helps prevent some types of cancer.

The flavonoids and anthocyanins in them also enhance the health of blood vessels and prevent clogged arteries.

In addition, black raisins contain fatty acids that contribute to protection against inflammation in general.

Black raisins also enhance the efficiency of the digestive system thanks to their high content of natural fibers.

Black raisins are a rich source of potassium, which improves the performance of the nervous and muscular systems.

It also contributes to protection against respiratory diseases, such as allergies and lung diseases.

It also works to prevent a variety of skin diseases.

Ways to serve raisins to children

There are several ways to serve raisins to children, and they can be started from the age of 6 months. Among these methods:

- Adding cooked raisins to the foods that the child eats, such as mixing them with milk.

- Putting uncooked raisins in the child's juice or in the breakfast cereal bowl, after cutting them into very small pieces.

- Offering raisin juice in small quantities and at spaced intervals, to avoid high blood sugar levels.

Raisins can be offered to the child when he is 8-9 months old.

**Preparing raisins at home**

You can easily make raisins at home by following these steps:

1. Get high-quality grapes and remove the large seeds from them.

2. Wash them well with cold water.

3. Spread the grapes on a tray, preferably perforated to allow air to pass through, then place them in a sunny, dry place outside. Make sure to turn the grapes regularly to ensure that they are exposed to sunlight from all sides.

4. Wait for two to three days until the raisins are ready.

It is important to emphasize that raisins, like other dried fruits, contain large amounts of sugar. Therefore, overeating it without taking into account the total calories consumed daily may lead to weight gain and high levels of triglycerides in the blood. Therefore, it is recommended to eat it in moderation. While it is recommended to eat about two cups of fruits per day, half a cup of raisins is equivalent to one cup of fresh fruits.

Tips for introducing raisins to children

There are a set of guidelines that can be followed to ensure that children benefit from raisins safely. These guidelines include:

- Make sure to wash the raisins well before introducing them to children.

- When introducing raisins to a child for the first time, it is preferable to cook them by boiling them in water until the grains swell and become soft.

- Eat raisins in moderate quantities.

- Drink plenty of water after eating raisins, and be sure to clean your teeth using toothpaste, brush, and floss regularly.

- Choose raisins that are not covered with sugar.

- Read the raisin label before purchasing, and make sure it is an organic product to avoid exposure to pesticides.

**Raisin recipes for infants**

It is best to serve raisins after they are cooked.

To prepare raisins, add raisins to boiling water and wait until they swell and become soft. After that, you can mash or grind them to make a puree.

You can add mashed or whole raisins to foods that your baby eats. For example, you can add raisins to yogurt or pureed fruits.

If you prefer to serve raisins raw, it is best to cut them into small pieces and add them to baby cereal or juice.

Make sure that the pieces of raisins are as small as possible to avoid the risk of choking.

Raisins can be included in a variety of baked foods such as cakes, cookies and pastries.

You can try using raisins as a substitute to reduce the amount of sugarAdded to recipes.

Raisins can also be used to prepare a healthy juice as an alternative to other sweets, as they contain simple sugars such as glucose and fructose.

The first recipe is fruit muesli:

- 4 tablespoons of oats.

- 6 tablespoons of yogurt.

- One grated apple.

- One grated pear.

- 2 tablespoons of fruit juice.

- 2 tablespoons of raisins.

**How ​​to prepare:**

 

1. Boil the apples and pears in a pot over the fire.

2. Leave the oats to soak in water for two hours before starting to prepare the recipe.

3. Mix all the ingredients together until smooth.

**The second recipe: Complete chicken dish**

 

- Chicken breast cubes.

- Sweet potato cubes.

- Grated apple.

- Small grated onion.

- A quarter cup of peas.

- A cup of soup without salt.

- A teaspoon of oil.

- Three tablespoons of raisins.

How to prepare:

We start by heating the oil over low heat.

Then we add the onions and stir well, then we add the chicken cubes and continue stirring until cooked.

We add the potatoes, apples and raisins.

Then we add the soup and leave the ingredients to boil until fully cooked.

**How ​​to prepare raisin soak for infants**

 

We can confidently say that raisin soak is one of the best options that can be given to infants for their nutrition, as it contains many health benefits. Here are the correct steps to prepare it:

1. Bring a quantity of raisins, preferably about a kilo and a half at least.

2. Prepare 3 liters of warm water.

3. First, put the water in a small pot on the fire and leave it until it boils completely.

4. Next, make sure to clean the raisins well to get rid of any dirt or impurities, then put them in a clean bowl in a suitable place.

All you have to do now is boil the water and then pour it over the raisins in the bowl designated for them.

After that, leave the raisins to soak for between two and a half to three hours.

You will also need to boil a liter and a half of water, and after boiling, leave it to cool slightly.

Then, put the soaked raisins with the water in the blender and start mixing them well.

After mixing, transfer the mixture to another bowl with some water added.

Thus, you have a beneficial raisin soak that you can give to your infant to get the necessary nutrition.

**The harms of raisins to children**

Raisins are considered one of the beneficial foods for children, and they rarely cause harm to them. However, some potential risks should be taken into consideration to avoid them, including:

**Allergy**: Although allergy to raisins is rare, it is preferable for the mother to give the child a small amount of raisins and monitor him for a period after his first experience, to ensure that no allergic symptoms appear.

**Choking**: Raisins are considered small foods, which may lead to the risk of choking if not swallowed properly. Therefore, it is advisable to have an adult near the child while eating raisins and not leave him to eat them alone, to facilitate dealing with any choking that may occur.

**Tooth decay**: Raisins are a sticky food that may stick to the teeth and gums during chewing, which increases the risk of bacteria accumulation in the mouth and the development of tooth decay. To avoid this risk, it is recommended to eat raisins with meals that can be chewed and swallowed easily, and avoid giving them to children before bed. It is also preferable to brush and floss your teeth after eating raisins.

Weight gain Raisins are a sugar-rich food and have a high glycemic index, which means that eating them can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, which may increase the risk of a child becoming overweight.

Can children be allergic to raisins?

 

Any food can cause an allergic reaction, so it's important to know what to do if your child shows signs of an allergy. Signs of a food allergy include rash, itching, swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pale skin. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, they may be allergic to the food they ate. Other signs of an allergic reaction include a tight throat, trouble breathing, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.