Photo by sarae.

As soon as I think of raspberries I’m transported to a late summer day lying inside a raspberry patch in my old garden in Portland, Oregon. I think the best berries come from the Pacific Northwest, which makes me a little sad because I can’t eat average raspberries anymore.

If you are fortunate enough to stumble upon a raspberry patch or find some good wild ones at the market, savor them fresh. They’re really good for you:

• Raspberries are loaded with vitamin C and manganese. 1 cup will give you about half your daily value of each. Freezing will significantly reduce the vitamin C.
• High in anthocyanin flavonoids which give them that gorgeous red color and antioxidant punch.
• High in ellagic acid (endorsed by the American Cancer Association) which fights cancer and is often found in supplements. Freezing greatly reduces these. Here’s a whole food version.

Raspberry leaves, known to herbalists as Rubus idaeus, have their own set of delights 

• High in magnesium and great for cramps, and sore muscles
• Adaptogenic to uterine muscles.  Will both relax (due to effects on calcium & magnesium) and contract due to the astringent effect of the tannins.
• Tea can helpful in early stages of diarrhea, again because of the tannins

Enjoy the spoils of the end of summer: raspberries!

Dr. Nishant Rao is a co-founder of WellWire.com. He is a well-traveled naturopathic doctor and new father, practicing an integrative approach to create wellness in and around Los Angeles. Become a patient or discover his practice.