Brown Raisins - Bhura Munakka - Bhoora Munnaka

Commonly called Munakka, it has so many other names such as Zabeeb, Maneka, Dried Grapes, Raisins, Darakh, Drakh, Dakh, Kishmish, Angur, Draksh, Angoore Khushk, Mavaiz, Draksha, Munaqqa, Angoor.

Munakka is traditionally called Kishmish in Indian regions and is commonly eaten after soaking overnight.

It has a unique cooling property that can be used in the treatment of many digestive disorders. You may boil these seeds and even mix them in milk for the best benefits. The ingredient contains beneficial seeds that hold many medicinal values.

Health benefiting properties & Nutrition of Munakka:

Munakka is sweet in taste and is considered as the rich source of phenolic compounds and contains resveratrol, flavonoid, quercetin, catechins, procyanidins and anthocyanins.

It possesses anti-ageing, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection properties.

Munnaka  contains no fats and has a good dose of calories, carbohydrates, & proteins.

It even has minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, phosphorous and calcium. And, it contains vitamins such as Vitamin B, folate, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.

Health Benefits & Uses of Munakka:

• Boosts Energy & Performance

Munakka has so many healthy nutrients as mentioned above. Additionally, it does not have any fats which makes it extremely easy to digest and absorb.

Studies suggest eating soaked Munakkas every morning on an empty stomach and also drinking the water in which they were soaked. You don’t have to have a lot of them.

4-6 Munakkas on a daily basis will be enough to boost your energy and performance. 

This is especially beneficial for women and children who struggle with low energy levels, fatigue and drowsiness throughout the day.

• Promotes Haemoglobin Levels 

Munakkas contain a good amount of folate and iron. As many women in their childbearing years and menopausal age have an iron deficiency, they even struggle with severe anaemia and some with beta-thalassemia. 

Having Munakkas every day, soaked or raw, can promote haemoglobin levels drastically. Doctors suggest having them soaked in milk as they can instantly boost iron in the blood.

• Improves Sexual Health

Munakkas have a unique property called being an aphrodisiac. These can benefit men especially as they have the ability to improve sperm count, motility and sexual performance.

If a man has problems with libido, desire and suffers from ED, Munakka can help.

Additionally, it can be used by both men and women to improve their energy, stamina and performance in bed.

• Promotes Bone Health

As Munakka is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and folate, it can definitely promote your bone health and boost bone density. It has the ability to fight various joint pain and bone diseases.

It also contains Boron which is a micronutrient that helps in the absorption of calcium.

The kishmish or Munakkas can even help prevent arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis which are considered to be the worst cases of bone or joint pain.

• Stabilises Cholesterol Levels

Munakka contains a phytochemical called resveratrol which is commonly known for its antioxidants, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

These properties are well-known to be the perfect treatment of cholesterol. Hence, many cholesterol supplements name themselves using phytochemicals names.

Resveratrol is a very powerful component that aids in widening the arteries and clearing the plaque deposits using its antioxidant properties.

Its vasolidating properties can be very useful in clearing toxins too. If you have high levels of LDL (bad cholesterol), you should have soaked munakka every day.

• Promotes Digestion

Munakkas contain a lot of dietary and soluble fibres that can promote digestion, regulate bowel movements and treat digestive disorders.

It can push the waste through the intestines and help regulate your bowel movements even if you have chronic constipation.

Regular consumption of Munakkas is said to improve conditions such as IBS, inflammation of the digestive organs, reduce risk of colon cancer, high or low pH, poor metabolism, pelvic pain, stomach pain, gastritis, bloating and many other conditions.

• Improves Oral Health

Chewing Munakka may help reduce dental cavity as it becomes sticky and takes tartar away from your teeth.

The phytochemicals in Munakka helps kill dental bacteria and prevent severe gum problems as well. If you love eating soaked Munakkas, you must have 5-7 of them every day.

Having soaked Munakkas have also proven to prevent gum diseases and bad breath. They build stronger enamel for your teeth which acts as a protection shield for your teeth.

• Prevents Dry Cough

“Munakka is effective in management of dry cough due to its cough suppressant activity.

It also has a soothing property that reduces irritation in the throat.  This is due to its Snigdha (oily) nature.” (Research Gate)

It is also known to prevent extremely dry cough which affects some Covid-19 patients. Munakka is also known as “The Tree Of Life” due to its regenerative abilities. Doctors advise eating munakka to prevent dry cough and cold.

• Treats Vertigo

Vertigo is often the result of weak neurotransmittive activity of the brain. Having Munakka daily, roasted or soaked, can prevent vertigo in patients.

People experience vertigo as a disease or a symptom of an underlying disease. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often complain of vertigo, pregnant women with anaemia, anaemic patients and other people who’re fatigued and feel weak should consume Munakka to avoid vertigo.

• Treats Headache

Munakkas are very effective in treating various kinds of headaches. You can use munakka powder or powder dried munakka at home, mix the powder with licorice root powder and some sugar. Just take or sniff a pinch of this herbal mixture to feel instant relief.

Regular consumption of Munakkas can prevent inflammation that causes headaches.