Although controversial in its day, who doesn’t love the Prince song, Raspberry Beret? When the song was first released I had a friend who wore a raspberry beret that she got in a second hand store. We were young, cute, bohemian girls enjoying the slightly off center side of life. To this day every time I eat raspberries I think of the song and my friend in her raspberry beret.
Innocent love is like a raspberry. It’s sweet and tender but doesn’t last very long. However the sweet tenderness makes us go back for more. That’s because like love these little red morsels are packed with “good stuff” that nourishes the body, the mind and the soul.
According to ancient records raspberries are native to Asia Minor and to North America. It was the Roman however who are responsible for spreading the raspberry seeds throughout Europe. Not only a delicious fruit but raspberries were believed to be medicinal. The raspberry has been shown to have antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial qualities. The leaves of the raspberry plant are used to make a tea that minimizes childbirth pain, helps to control diarrhea and is used for a mouth wash for sore throats.
But the real value is in the high vitamin C content which makes it a great antioxidant. Raspberries are a rich source of these anthocyanins ( antioxidants) which have been shown to lower the risk of health disease and delay the effects of aging.
Your mother made have told you to eat your carrots to protect your eyesight but studies have shown that eating three or more serving of fruits per day, specifically raspberries are important for lowering age-related macular degeneration- the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
In early European/Christian art work raspberries are used to symbolize the energy of blood which runs from heart and carries love, nutrition and kindness to the body. Raspberries remind us to be patient. It takes two years for a raspberry bush to produce fruit. Likewise we must be patient with our endeavors and protect the fruits of our labor.
Like, raspberries cousin the rose, we are reminded to be gentle with one another and to be patient and loving. It is only with care and gentle touch that the raspberry yields her fruit. The raspberry reminds us to slow down and savor all that must occur before we bear the fruits of our lives. Just like the Prince Song, Raspberry Beret; the sight of a raspberry should now make you instantly fall in love!
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