Raspberries pack a big nutritional wallop. They contain disease-fighting chemicals that combat heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and obesity, according to a new review published in Advances in Nutrition.

Raspberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber, but they are among the few foods that also contain large amounts of ellagitannins and anthocyanins.

Ellagitannins are a type of polyphenol that studies have found prevent cancer cells from developing and can actually cause them to die. In the body, ellagitannins are converted to ellagic acid in a way similar to how your body makes vitamin A from beta carotene.

Anthocyanins are flavonoids that are responsible for the red, blue and purple colors found in many fruits and vegetables, and are potent antioxidants.

Together, ellagitannins and anthocyanins provide a powerful health combo. Numerous studies show they fight:

• Heart disease. Studies found that eating raspberries reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, indicting raspberries may lower blood pressure, and slow the development of atherosclerosis.

• Diabetes. Numerous studies have suggested that the ellagitannins and anthocyanins found in raspberries help lower the risk of diabetes and help manage existing disease by improving the body's response to insulin and reducing sugar levels in the blood.

• Obesity. Since obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, controlling weight can help lower the risk for all three conditions. Studies found that mice fed a high-fat diet increased their breakdown of fat and lost weight when fed raspberry ketones. Raspberries' high fiber content helps dieters feel full, which also helps control weight.

• Alzheimer's. The polyphenols contained in raspberries have been shown to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and help insulin resistance, all of which appear to maintain a healthy brain and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, and also slow the aging process.

"Turns out what is good for the heart, is also good for the brain," says the study's lead author Britt M. Burton-Freeman, Ph.D. "That is what is particularly interesting about the research on red raspberries — their potential to help reduce factors contributing to metabolic syndrome which has implications for diabetes development and overall cardiovascular and brain health."