Dried fruit

Traditional dried fruit retain most of the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit, and gain others.

They are included side by side with fresh fruit in dietary recommendations by all US health agencies

Dried fruit is fruit where the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, and is prized because of its sweet taste, wrinkly texture, nutritive value and long shelf life. Today, dried fruit consumption is widespread. Nearly half of the dried fruits sold are raisins, followed by dates, prunes (dried plums), figs, apricots, peaches, apples and pears.^[1] These are referred to as “conventional” or “traditional” dried fruits: fruits that have been dried in the sun or in heated wind tunnel dryers. Many fruits such as cranberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries and mangoes are infused with a sweetener (e.g. sucrose syrup) prior to drying. Some products sold as dried fruit, like papaya and pineapples are actually candied fruit.

History^[2][3]

Nineveh: Procession through groves of date palms, one of the world's first cultivated tree

Traditional dried fruit such as raisins, figs, dates, apricots and apples have been a staple of Mediterranean diets for millennia. This is due partly to their early cultivation in the Middle Eastern region known as the Fertile Crescent, made up by parts of modern Iraq, Iran and Syria, southwest Turkey and northern Egypt. Drying or dehydration also happened to be the earliest form of food preservation: grapes, dates and figs that fell from the tree or vine would dry in the hot sun. Early hunter-gatherers observed that these fallen fruit took on an edible form, and valued them for their stability as well as their concentrated sweetness.^[4]

Temple of Nahkt, Egypt. Harvesting grapes, many of which would be dried into raisins.

The earliest recorded mention of dried fruits can be found in Mesopotamian tablets dating to about 1700 BC, which contain what are probably the oldest known written recipes. These clay slabs, written in Akkadian, the daily language of Babylonia, were inscribed in cuneiform and tell of diets based in grains (barley, millet, wheat) vegetables and fruits such as dates, figs, apples, pomegranates, and grapes. These early civilizations used dates, date juice evaporated into syrup and raisins as sweeteners. They included dried fruits in their breads for which they had more than 300 recipes, from simple barley bread for the workers to very elaborate, spiced cakes with honey for the palaces and temples. Because cuneiform was very complex and only scribes who had studied for years could read it, it is unlikely that the tablets were meant for everyday cooks or chefs. Instead they were written to document the culinary art of the times. Many recipes are quite elaborate and have rare ingredients so we may assume that they represent "Mediterranean haute cuisine".

The date palm was one of the first cultivated trees. It was domesticated in Mesopotamia more than 5,000 years ago. It grew abundantly in the Fertile Crescent and it was so productive (an average date palm produces 100 lbs of fruit a year for 60 years or more) that dates were the cheapest of staple foods. Because they were so valuable they were well recorded in Assyrian and Babylonian monuments and temples. The villagers in Mesopotamia dried them and ate them as sweets. Whether fresh, soft-dried or hard-dried, they helped to give character to meat dishes and grain pies. They were valued by travelers for their energy and were recommended as stimulants against fatigue.

Figs were also prized in early Mesopotamia, Israel and Egypt where their daily use was probably greater than or equal to that of dates. As well as appearing in wall paintings, many specimens have been found in Egyptian tombs as funerary offerings. In Greece and Crete, figs grew very readily and they were the staple of poor and rich alike, particularly in their dried form.

Grape cultivation first began in Armenia and the eastern regions of the Mediterranean in the 4th century BC. Here, raisins were manufactured by burying grapes in the desert sun. Very quickly, viticulture and raisin production spread across northern Africa including Morocco and Tunisia. The Phoenicians and the Egyptians popularized the production of raisins, probably due to the perfect environment for sun drying. They put them in jars for storage and allotted them to the different temples by the thousands. They also included them in their breads and their various pastries, some made with honey, some with milk and eggs.

From the Middle East, these fruits spread through Greece to Italy where they became a major part of the diet. Ancient Romans ate raisins in spectacular quantities and all levels of society, including them as a key part of their common meals, along with olives and fruits. Raisined breads were common for breakfast and were consumed with their grains, beans and cultured milks. Raisins were so valued that they transcended the food realm and became rewards for successful athletes as well as premium barter currency.

Figs in basket, Pompeii: Dried figs were extremely popular in ancient Rome.

Having dried fruits was a must in ancient Rome as these instructions for housekeepers around 100 BC tell: "She must keep a supply of cooked food on hand for you and the servants. She must keep many hens and have plenty of eggs. She must have a large store of dried pears, sorbs, figs, raisins, sorbs in must, preserved pears and grapes and quinces. She must also keep preserved grapes in grape-pulp and in pots buried in the ground, as well as fresh Praenestine nuts kept in the same way, and Scantian quinces in jars, and other fruits that are usually preserved, as well as wild fruits. All these she must store away diligently every year."^[5]

Figs again were extremely popular in Rome. Dried figs were equated with bread and formed a major part or the winter food of country people. They were rubbed with spiced such as cumin, anise and fennel seeds, or toasted sesame, wrapped in fig leaves and stored in jars.

Plums, apricots and peaches had their origins in Asia.^[6] They were domesticated in China in the 3rd millennium BC and spread to the Fertile Crescent where they were also very popular, fresh and dried alike. They arrived in Greece and Italy much later and were very expensive but valued in the preparation of gourmet dishes with port or stewed with honey and spices.

Trends and current production

California Dried Fruit Production (Dry Basis)^[7]

Fruit	Tons
Apricots	1,970
Dates	16,300
Figs	14,500
Peaches	1,365
Pears (bartlett)	400
Prunes	81,000
Raisins	350,000

Today, dried fruit is produced in most regions of the world, and consumption occurs in all cultures and demographic segments. In the United States, Americans consumed an average of 2.18 pounds (processed weight) of dried fruit in 2006. Raisins accounted for about two thirds of this.^[8] California produces the largest percentage of the US and the world's dried fruit crop. It accounts for over 99% of the US crop of raisins and dried plums, 98% of dried figs, 96% of dried peaches, 92% of apricots and over 90% of dates. Most of California dried fruit production is centered in the San Joaquin Valley where the soil and climate, especially the hot, dry summers, provide ideal growing conditions. While these fruits were commonly dried in the sun in the past, now only raisins are almost entirely naturally sun-dried.^[9]

Nutritional quality and nutrient composition

Dried fruits retain most of the nutritional value of fresh fruits, and so are included with fresh fruit in dietary recommendations by U.S.^[11] and world health agencies. The specific nutrient content of the different dried fruits reflect their fresh counterpart and the processing method (e.g. traditional dried fruits versus sugar infused dried fruit). In general, all dried fruits provide essential nutrients and an array of health protective bioactive ingredients, making them valuable tools to both increase diet quality and help reduce the risk of chronic disease. The combination of nutritional value and enjoyable taste is the reason dried fruits have been popularly considered a healthy food for millennia. Because they are naturally resistant to spoilage, easy to store and transport and relatively low in cost, dried fruits are a convenient way to increase the number of servings of fruit in the diet. The following are basic nutritional facts on dried fruits:

• Like fresh fruits, dried fruits are practically devoid of fat, trans fats, saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Like fresh fruits, dried fruits have very low sodium content.
• Dried fruits are a particularly significant source of dietary fiber and potassium. On a per serving basis (1/4 cup) dried fruits are among the top 50 contributors of these nutrients among all foods in the American diet. Amongst all fruits, they are among the top 5 contributors of potassium and fiber.^[12]
• Dried fruits also provide essential nutrients that are otherwise low in today's diets, such as vitamin A (apricots and peaches), calcium (figs), vitamin K (dried plums), iron, and copper. Raisins and dried plums are among the 50 major contributors of boron in the American diet raisins having the highest concentration at 2.2 mg per 100 g.^[13] Boron, a putative trace element is important for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones and joints.^[14]
• Traditional dried fruits have no added sugars. Drying removes some of the fruits' water and so concentrates their natural sugars. This, however, is normalized by a smaller serving size (e.g. 40 g for raisins versus 126 g for grapes, Nutrition Labeling and Education Act).^[15] For this reason, total sugar and energy values are similar between dried and fresh fruit. Most traditional dried fruits have minimal amounts of sucrose, their sugar is in the form of fructose and glucose.

Phytochemicals and other health protective bioactive components

Dried fruits are not only important sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber in the diet but also provide a wide array of bioactive components or phytochemicals. These plant compounds are not designated as traditional nutrients since they are not essential to sustain life, but play a role in health and longevity and have been linked to a reduction in the risk of major chronic disease. Convincing evidence suggest that the benefits of phytochemicals may be even greater than is currently understood, since they affect metabolic pathways and cellular reactions believed to be involved in the etiology of a wide range of chronic disease. However, the precise mechanisms by which specific compounds exert their biological effect remains largely hypothetical and are thus subject of intense investigation. The following are some of these health protective components in dried fruits:

Dried fruits are excellent sources of polyphenols, like the flavonol quercetin above, and phenolic acids.

• Dried fruits are an excellent source of polyphenols and phenolic acids.^[16] These compounds make up the largest group of phytochemicals in the diet and appear to be, at least in part, responsible for the potential benefit associated with the consumption of diets abundant in fruits and vegetables. Different dried fruits have unique phenolic profiles. For example, the most abundant in raisins are the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol and the phenolic acids caftaric and coutaric acid.^[17] Dates contain quercetin, apigenin and luteolin; dried plums are very high in chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids;^[18] cranberries and blueberries are high in anthocyanins and anthocyanidins.
• By virtue of their high polyphenol content, dried fruits are an important source of antioxidants in the diet.^[19][20] These phytochemicals are believed to account for a major portion of antioxidant capacity in plant foods. Antioxidants can lower oxidative stress and so prevent oxidative damage to critical cellular components. Dried apricots and peaches are also important sources of carotenoids. These compounds not only are precursors of vitamin A but they also have antioxidant activity.
• Dried fruits such as dried plums provide pectin, a soluble fiber that may lower blood cholesterol levels.^[21]
• Dried fruits such as raisins are a source of prebiotic compounds in the diet. They contain fructooligosacharides like inulin, naturally occurring fiber-like carbohydrates that contribute to colon health.^[22][23]
• Dried fruits contain organic acids such as tartaric acid (raisins) and sorbitol (dried plums). These organic acids and fiber appear to work synergistically to maintain a healthy digestive system. They may also help increase the bioavailability of minerals in the diet, such as calcium and iron.^[24]

Health considerations

Glycemic Index of Different Dried Fruits http://www.glycemicindex.com

Fruit	Glycemic Index
Dates (brand or variety not specified	62
Dried Apples (brand not specified)	29
Dried Apricots (brand not specified)	30
Dried Peaches	35
Dried Plums (Sun Sweet)	29
Figs (Dessert Maid)	61
Raisins (Sun-Maid)	54

Glycemic Index

Traditional dried fruit have a low to moderate Glycemic Index (GI) – a measure of how a food affects blood sugar levels. GI measures an individual's response to eating a carbohydrate-containing food (usually 50 grams of available carbohydrates) compared to the individual's response to the same amount of carbohydrates from either white bread or glucose. Carbohydrate containing foods are classified as high (above 70), moderate (56–69), or low (0–55) GI.^[25] Foods with high fiber content generally have a low GI. However, other factors also contribute to a food's glycemic response, such as the type of carbohydrate or sugar present, the physical characteristic of the food matrix and the presence of organic acids. All studies assessing the GI of dried fruit show that they are low to moderate GI foods and that the insulin response is proportional to their GI. Factors thought to contribute to this glycemic response include the viscous texture of dried fruits when chewed; their whole food matrix; the presence of phenolic compounds and organic acids and the type of sugar present (about 50% fructose in most traditional dried fruit).^[26]

Oral health

The date: Phoenix dactylifera L.

Dried fruit may promote healthy teeth and gums. Contrary to longstanding popular perception that dried fruits such as raisins promote cavities, recent studies indicate that they may benefit oral health. Bioactive compounds found in dried fruit appear to have antimicrobial properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. For example, oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural found in raisins have been shown to inhibit the growth of two species of oral bacteria: Streptococcus mutans, which cause cavities, and Porphyromonas gingivitis, which causes periodontal disease. Oleanolic acid also blocks in vitro biofilm formation by S. mutans and the adherence of S. mutans to experimental surfaces. This quality is significant because adherence is bacteria's first step in forming dental plaque, the film that accumulates on teeth.^[27]

Raisins have been thought of as cariogenic foods because they are sweet and sticky. However, it has been shown that perceived "stickiness" bears little relationship to the actual retention of food particles on tooth surfaces or to the clearance of food-derived sugars from saliva. In these studies, raisins have been shown to exhibit rapid clearing rates, placing them among the least retentive foods within a sample of 21 commercially available snack foods. Investigators showed that raisins were almost completely cleared from tooth surfaces 5 minutes after chewing and swallowing. It is probable that these properties also apply to other traditional dried fruit because they have similar fiber content and physical matrix as raisins.^[28]

A recent clinical study investigated raisins and oral health in 7-11 year old children. Researchers measured dental plaque acidogenicity after the children ate raisins, raisin-containing cereal and cereal alone. The plaque pH was measured prior to and 2, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes after consumption of each food. Eating raisins alone did not lower plaque pH below pH 6 over the 30-minute test. This indicates that they did not lower plaque pH to the critical level that would increase the risk of caries. Addition of raisins to bran flakes promoted less plaque pH drop beyond 10 minutes when compared to bran flakes alone. Raisins were less acidogenic than a raisin bran cereal, bran flakes or a 10% sucrose solution. This shows that raisins were less retentive on tooth surfaces and were rapidly cleared after chewing. They also enhanced clearance rate of the chewed cereal particles so that they lowered the acidogenicity when added to bran flakes.^[29] While this research has been conducted on raisins, preliminary evidence indicates that these findings may also be replicated using other traditional dried fruit.

Finally, the predominant sugars in traditional dried fruit are fructose and glucose, with trace amounts of sucrose. It is sucrose that serves as a substrate for the synthesis of adherent compounds in dental plaque, the causal agent in tooth decay and gum disease. Studies comparing the cariogenicity of different sugars (sucrose, maltose, lactose, fructose and glucose) invariably demonstrate that sucrose, more than any other type of sugar, induces the most smooth-surface-type and fissure-type caries.^[30]

Food safety

Dried fruit has a long history of food safety. The high drying and processing temperatures, the intrinsic low pH of the fruit, the low water activity (moisture content) and the presence of natural antimicrobial compounds in dried fruit make them a remarkable stable food. There is no known incident of a food-borne illness related to dried fruit.

Both golden and conventional raisins are made from the same grape. Golden raisins are treated with sulfur dioxide.

Dried fruit and sulfite sensitivity. Sulfur dioxide is used as an antioxidant in some dried fruits to protect their color and flavor. For example, in golden raisins, dried peaches, apples and apricots sulfur dioxide is used to keep them from losing their light color by blocking browning reactions which darkens fruit and alter their flavor. Over the years, sulfur dioxide and sulfites have been used by many populations for a variety of purposes. Sulfur dioxide was first employed as a food additive in 1664, and was later approved for such use in the United States as far back as the 1800s. Humanity's longstanding experience with sulfite use has led us to regard them as harmless and convenient compounds. However, sulfur dioxide, while harmless to healthy individuals, can induce asthma when inhaled or ingested by sensitive people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that one out of a hundred people is sulfite-sensitive (allergic), and about 5% of asthmatics are also at risk of suffering an adverse reaction. Given that about 10% of the population suffers from asthma, this figure translates to approximately 500,000 people with potential for sulfite-sensitivity. These individuals make up the subgroup of greatest concern and are largely aware of the need to avoid sulfite-containing foods. Consequently, the FDA requires food manufactures and processors to disclose the presence of sulfiting agents in concentrations of at least 10 parts per million.^[31]

Questionable sources of dried fruit. In Taipei, Taiwan, a recent city health survey found one-third of tested dried fruit products failed health standard tests, most having excessive amounts of sodium cyclamate, some at levels 20 times higher than the legal limit.^[32]

Health benefits

Bone health

Dried fruit, particularly dried plums may promote bone health

Dried fruits, particularly dried plums, may promote bone health. Research conducted with dried plums indicates that they have a role in supporting bone health.^[33] This may be because they are rich in phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids and lignans, which may stimulate bone formation and enhance osteoblast activity. Animal studies have shown that dried plums protect, and even reverse, bone loss in models of osteopemia (low bone mineral density, a precursor to osteoporosis).^[34] For example, feeding dried plums reduced loss of bone in ovariectomized rats in a dose dependant fashion. It also increased circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Serum IGF-1 is known to stimulate bone formation, osteoblast activity, and collagen synthesis and has a role in bone remodeling.^[35] A follow-up study showed that dried plums restored loss of tibial and femoral density in an osteopenic rat model of osteoporosis. Various doses of dried plums were also able to significantly improve trabecular bone structure and increase tibial bone volume and connectivity. These observations are unique because it is believed that once bone volume and connectivity are lost they cannot be brought back to normal. In studies where bone loss was produced by skeletal unloading, a diet containing dried plums also enhanced bone recovery by increasing bone mineral density and trabecular bone structure. The effect was similar to parathyroid hormone treatment.^[36]

Dried apricot paste from Syria

In vitro studies have shown that dried plum polyphenols suppress osteoclast differentiation and activity under normal, oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions. These studies also show that dried plum enhances osteoblast ALP activity, calcified nodule formation and type I collagen cross-linking. These changes may be mediated by up regulating transcription and growth factors.^[37] In addition to animal studies, the findings of a short-term (3 month) clinical trial showed that the consumption of dried plums (100 grams per day) by postmenopausal women significantly increased markers of bone formation including serum total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone-specific ALP activity and IGF-1.^[38] Currently, a 1-year comparative control randomized study is being conducted to confirm these findings and to determine whether dried plum increases bone mass or prevents further bone loss in osteopemic postmenopausal women. While the mechanism of action of dried plums remains to be elucidated, researchers believe that phenolic compounds may be the major bone protective agents. However, essential nutrients like vitamin K and minerals like potassium and the trace element boron may contribute to their beneficial effect. Dried plums are also high in copper, which is essential for bone building processes as it is a co-factor of lysyl oxidase. This enzyme promotes cross-linking of lysine residues in collagen and elastin.

Intestinal health

Dried fruits promote digestive health. There is considerable research supporting the role of dried fruit in regulating bowel function and maintaining a healthy digestive system.^[39] Dried plums are well known in common experience to alleviate constipation. Some researchers ascribe it to their high fiber content: the combination of soluble (49%) and insoluble fiber (51%) in dried plums probably acts in a gentle way in the lower intestines, softening stool increasing bulk and promoting intestinal motility.^[40] More recent research indicates that they also provide prebiotic compounds such as fructans, which help to maintain intestinal balance and colonic health.^[41]

Weight management

Dried fruits may contribute to healthy body weights. Emerging data suggests that dried fruit intake is not associated with higher body weight. On the contrary, recent analysis of NHANES (1999–2004) data indicates that diets high in dried fruits are associated with lower Body Mass Index (BMI), reduced overweight and obesity and improved diet quality.^[42] Moreover, after adjusting for potential cofounders (socioeconomic status, education, exercise), these data show that prevalence of overweight/obesity and prevalence of abdominal obesity are lower for those who consume dried fruits than for those who did not.^[43] Finally, emerging data suggest that dried fruit promotes satiety by affecting the levels of hormones such as leptin that regulate appetite.^[44]

Dried fruits as part of the daily diet provide essential nutrients and an arrray of health protective compounds making them valuable tools to both increase diet quality and help reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Healthy diet

Dried fruits meet dietary guidelines for daily fruit servings and address barriers to fruit intake. The greatest benefit of including dried fruits regularly in the diet is that it is a means to expand overall consumption of fruit and the critical nutrients they contain. Dried fruits have the advantage of being very easy to store and distribute, they are readily incorporated into other foods and recipes, relatively low cost and present a healthy alternative to sugary snacks. The scientific basis for the recommendations to increase fruit consumption in the diet by health authorities is the epidemiological evidence that individuals who regularly eat generous amounts of these foods have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity, several cancers, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Dried fruits, with their unique combination of essential nutrients, fiber and bioactive compounds are a convenient step toward healthier eating and a means to bridge the gap between recommended intake of fruits and the amount Americans actually consume.

Dried organic apricot. It is dark because it has not been treated with sulfur dioxide.

Commercial products and food industry applications

Fruits can be dried whole (e.g. grapes, berries, apricot, plum), in halves, or as slices, (e.g. mango, papaya, kiwi). Alternatively they can be chopped after drying (e.g. dates), made into pastes, or concentrated juices. The residual moisture content can vary from small (3 – 8%) to substantial (16 – 18%), depending on the type of fruit. Fruits can also be dried in puree form, as leather,^[45] or as a powder, by spray of drum drying. They can be freeze dried: fresh fruit is frozen and placed in a drying chamber under vacuum. Heat is applied and water evaporates from the fruit while still frozen".^[46] The fruit becomes very light and crispy and retains much if its original flavor. Dried fruit is widely used by the confectionery, baking, and sweets industries. Food manufacturing plants use dried fruits in various sauces, soups, marinades, garnishes, puddings, and food for infants and children. As ingredients in prepared food, dried fruit juices, purées and pastes impart sensory and functional characteristics to recipes:

• The high fiber content provides water absorbing and water binding capabilities, tenderization and nutritional enhancement.
• Organic acids such as sorbitol, act as humectants, provide dough and batter stability, and control of water activity.
• Fruit-sugars add sweetness, humectancy, surface browning and control water activity.
• Fruit acids, such as malic acid and tartaric acid, contribute to flavor enhancement and act as anti-microbial agents (suppress mold and bacterial growth).
• Vitamins and minerals increase nutritional value and label appeal.
• Phenolic compounds slow down lipid oxidation in meats. They add a natural caramel color.

See also

• Dried vine fruit - generic term for dried grapes that includes raisins, sultanas and currants
• List of seeds, nuts and fruit for snack

References

1. ^ Hui, YH. Handbook of fruits and fruit processing. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford UK (2006) p. 81
2. ^ Brothwell D, Brothwell P. Food in Antiquity: A survey of the diet of early people. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London (1998) pp. 144 - 147
3. ^ Tannahill R. Food in History, Three Rivers Press, New York (1998) pp. 49 - 51
4. ^ Trager J. The food Chronology: a food lover's compendium of events and anecdotes, from prehistory to the present. Henry Holt and Company Inc, New York, NY 1995
5. ^ Source: Cato, (M.P.) On Agriculture. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. (1934) (W.D. Hooper, translator) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture19/r_19-2.html
6. ^ Janick J. History of Horticulture (2002) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture12/lec12.html
7. ^ Agricultural Statistics Board, USDA. Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2007 Summary, July 2008. http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/NoncFruiNu//2000s/2008/NoncFruiNu-07-08-2008_revision.pdf
8. ^ United States Department of Agriculture. Fruit and Tree Nut Situation and Outlook: A Report from the Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/FTS
9. ^ Agricultural Marketing Resource Center at Iowa State University. Fruits http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/fruits
10. ^ Values from: United States Department of Agriculture. Nutrient Database Laboratory http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search
11. ^ United States Department of Agriculture, MyPyramid.gov http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/fruits.html
12. ^ United States Department of Agriculture, Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 Appendix B. Food Sources of Selected Nutrients http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/AppendixB.htm#appB1
13. ^ Rainey CJ et al. Daily boron intake from the American diet. J Amer Diet Ass 1999; 99:335-40
14. ^ Devirian TA and Volpe SL. The physiological effects of dietary boron. Crit Review Food Sci Nutr 2003; 43(2):219-31
15. ^ United States Department of Agriculture. Nutrient Data Laboratory http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
16. ^ USDA Database for the flavonoid content of selected foods (release 2.1 2007) http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/DATA/flav02-1.pdf
17. ^ Willamson G, and Carughi A. Polyphenol content and health benefits of raisins. Nutrition Research 2010; 30:511-519
18. ^ Donovan JL Meyer AS and Waterhouse AL Phenolic Composition and In-Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Prunes and Prune Juice.? J Agric Food Chem 1998
19. ^ Wu X, Beecher GR, Holden JM et al. Lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacities of common foods in the United States. J Agric Food Chem 2004; 52:4026-4037
20. ^ Vinson JA, Zubic L, Bose P, et al. Dried fruits: excellent in vivo and in vitro antioxidants. J Amer Coll Nutr 2005; 24:44-50
21. ^ Tinker LF et al. Consumption of Prunes as a Source of Dietary Fiber in Men with Mild Hypercholesterolemia Am J Clinical Nutr 1991; 53: 1259–65
22. ^ Camire ME and Dougherty MP. Raisins dietary fiber composition and in vitro bile acid binding. J Agric Food Chem 2--3; 51:834-837
23. ^ Carughi A. FASEB J 2009; 23:716.9
24. ^ Spiller GA et al. Ettect of tartaric acid and dietary fiber from sun-dried raisins on colonic function and on bile acid and volatile fatty acid excretion in healthy adults. British J Nutr 2003; 90:803-7
25. ^ The Glycemic Index and GI Database, University of Sydney http://www.glycemicindex.com/
26. ^ Kim Y et al. Raisins are a low to moderate glycemic index food with a corresponding low insulin index Nutr Res 2008; 28:304-308
27. ^ Rivero -Cruz JF, Zhu M, Kinghorn AD and Wu CD. Antimicrobial constituents of Thomson seedless raisins (Vitis vinifera) against selected oral pathogens. Phytochemistry Letters 2008; 1:151-4
28. ^ Kahket S, Van Houte LR and Stocks S. Lack of correlation between food retention on the human dentition and consumer perception of food stickiness. J Dent Res 1991; 70(10):1314-9
29. ^ Utreja A, Lingstrom P, Evans CA et al. The effect of raisins-containing cereals on the PH of dental plaque in young children Pediatic Dentistry 2009; 31(70;498-503
30. ^ Newbrun E. Dental effects of sugars and sweeteners in Sugars and Sweeteners. (Kretchmer N and Hollenbeck, eds.) CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 1991
31. ^ Food and Drug Administration, Science & Research Volume IV: Food and Color Additives http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/FieldScience/ucm172545.htm
32. ^ http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2010/01/18/241326/Nearly-30.htm
33. ^ Hooshmand S and Arjmandi BH. Viewpoint: Dried plum, an emerging functional food that my effectively improve bone health. Ageing Res Reviews 2009; 8: 122-7
34. ^ Rendina E, Lim YF, Marlow D, et al. Dietary supplementation with dried plum prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in C57BL/6 mice and modulates the immune response. FASEB J 2009; 23: 563.13
35. ^ Franklin M, Bu SB, Lerner MR, et al. Dried plum prevents bone loss in a male osteoporosis model via IGF-1 and the RANK pathway. Bone 39: 1331-1342
36. ^ Smith BJ, Ethriedge A, Lucas EA, et al. Dried plum promotes bone recovery comparable to parathyroid hormone in osteopenic rats following hind limb unloading. J Bone Miner Res. 2003; 18: S277 )
37. ^ Bu SY, Hunt TS and Smith BJ. Dried plum polyphenols attenuate the detrimental effects of TNF-alpha on osteoblast function coincident with up-regulation of Runx2, Osterix and IGF-I. J Nutr Biochem 20(1): 35-44 (2009)
38. ^ Arjmandi BH, Khalis DA, Lucas EA, et al. Dried plums improve indices of bone formation in postmenopausal women. . J Women’s Health Gend Based Med 2002; 11: 61-8
39. ^ Spiller GA et al. Effect of sun-dried raisins on bile acid excretion, intestinal transit time and fecal weight: a dose response study. J Am Coll Nutr 2000;15(5):703
40. ^ Piirainen L et al Prune juice has a mild laxative effect in adults with certain gastrointestinal symptoms. Nutr Res 2007; 27:511-513
41. ^ See Camire 2001 and Carughi 2009
42. ^ Keast, DR and Jones JM. Dried fruit consumption associated with reduced overweight or obesity in adults: NHANES, 1999-2004. Experimental Biology Poster Session 2009 April 18–22; New Orleans, LA. FASEB J. April 2009.
43. ^ Jones, JM and Keast, DR. 2009a. Dried Fruit Consumption Associated with Improved Diet Quality and Reduced Overweight or Obesity in Adults: NHANES 1999-2004. Amer Diet Association Annual Meeting October 18, 2009 LNC: 5160, 5370, 7120
44. ^ Puglisi MJ, Mutungi G, Brun PJ, McGrane MM, Labonte C, Volek JS, Fernandez ML. Raisins and walking alter appetite hormones and plasma lipids by modifications in lipoprotein metabolism and up-regulation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Metabolism. 2009 Jan;58(1):120-8.
45. ^ National Center for Home Food Preservation - Drying Fruits and Vegetables, accessed 28 June 2009
46. ^ [1]

Further reading

• Al-Sahib W and Marshall RJ. The fruit of the date palm: Its possible use as the best food for the future? J Food Science Nutr 2003; 54: 247-59
• Carughi A. Health Benefits of Sun-Dried Raisins. http://www.raisins.net/Raisins_and_Health_200810.pdf
• Grivetti LE and Applegate EA. From Olympia to Atlanta: Agricultural-historic perspective on diet and athletic training. J Clinical Nutr 1997; 127:S860-868
• Hooshmand S and Arjmandi BH. Viewpoint: Dried plum, and emerging functional food that may effectively improve bone health. Ageing Res Reviews 2009; 8: 122-7
• Slavin JL. Figs: Past, present and future. Nutrition Today 2006; 41:180-18

External links

• Drying Apples http://www.simplysetup.com/simple-living-2/drying-apples.html
• California Dates Administrative Committee http://www.datesaregreat.com
• California Fig Advisory Board http://www.californiafigs.com
• California Dried Plum Board http://www.californiadriedplums.org
• California Raisin Marketing Board http://www.calraisins.org
• Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation http://www.nutfruit.org
• Sun-Maid Growers of California http://www.sun-maid.com
• Sunsweet http://www.sunsweet.com/nutrition/