Some interesting facts about raisins and how they can boost your training

[TheFugitive]

Raisins are high in minerals such as potassium, selenium and phosphorus. Potassium helps to keep the muscles firing on all cylinders and prevents muscle gramps and spasms. Selenium and phosphorus helps to facilitate the absorption of other nutrients and proteins in the body.

Raisins besides being a great source of dense calories are loaded with anti-oxydants. According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, gram per gram, they are the richest source of anti-oxydants known to man. Anti-oxydants are critical in the muscle building process as they repair much of the damage incurred with the stress of weight training.

http://www.strengthsensei.com/five-g...-to-gain-size/



Raisins contain a type of iron called nonheme iron. The amount of nonheme iron absorbed during digestion is affected by a variety of substances naturally found in foods. For example, phytic acid in legumes and grains interferes with iron uptake. If you get your raisins with wheat bran flakes, your body will absorb a smaller amount of the iron. On the flip side, vitamin C almost doubles the absorption of nonheme iron, according to Virginia Commonwealth University. To get the most iron from raisins, rinse them down with a cup of orange juice, or eat them with other vitamin C-rich foods, such as strawberries, sweet potatoes and pineapples.

Iron is best known for its role in red blood cells, where it carries life-sustaining oxygen to cells and tissues in your body. When you don’t get enough iron in your diet, red blood cells don’t develop properly and they have less hemoglobin, which means they can’t deliver enough oxygen. Iron-containing compounds fill other essential jobs in your body, such as metabolizing energy and synthesizing DNA. Your immune system also depends on iron. It’s needed for the normal growth of white blood cells, and iron-dependent enzymes help produce antioxidants that protect immune system cells.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/4...-high-in-iron/

Raisins are an amazing source of fructose, resveratrol, and boron.
Simple sugars, like fructose, have been shown to lower SHBG levels, which is great for your testosterone levels.
SHBG binds to free testosterone rendering it inactive within the body and does not allow it to bind to your androgen receptors (this binding process is what causes the masculinizing effects of testosterone that every man wants).
Therefore, lowering SHBG levels in your body increases the bioavailability of free-testosterone.
Resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in raisins, has been linked to increased testosterone levels and lowered estrogen levels. Lastly, raisins are a high-quality source of boron, which has been linked to increased testosterone in several scientific studies.

https://content.truthnutra.com/l005/...-testosterone/

Figs are a dense source of great carbs and minerals. They also contain enzymes that helps with protein digestion. They are rich in phyto-nutrients that are immune-enhancing. The greater your immune system is, the easier it is to build muscle. Figs are known for being a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese, and pantothenic acid.

http://www.strengthsensei.com/five-g...-to-gain-size/

[TheFugitive]

[TLTrooper]

I find that I have faster recovery when I have a small handful of raisins right after lifting, even before my whey or a meal with different carbs.