Healthy goodies
We have all been hearing the hype about Gogi berries and other such exotic delicacies recently, but what are they and why are they so good for us? Well, to satisfy my ferocious appetite for knowledge and truth, I slipped on my safari suit and went hunting for some answers!
Gogi Berries
Gogi Berries, which look more like tomatoes, are a very rich source of vitamin C, having 500 times more vitamin C per ounce than oranges, actually more almost than any fruit you could name. The berries have 18 amino acids (higher than bee pollen) and 21 trace minerals, linoleic acid, and more beta-carotene than carrots. They are also a rich source of both selenium and germanium and have hence, been used in a number of clinical trials involving cancer patients. This berry predominantly grows in an area called the ‘goji belt’ that is found in northern China and some mountainous areas of Tibet. They are not available fresh in Australia, although most health food shops and supermarkets stock the dried variety.
Acai berries
Pronounced ‘ah-sigh-EE’ this little berry has been a staple part of the Amazonian Indian diet for centuries and is now becoming popular in Australia. Açaí is a potent antioxidant that also contains the same cholesterol controlling essential fatty acids as olive oil. It is also a rich source of iron, calcium, vitamin e and fibre. Named by Dr Nicholas Perricone on Oprah as the number one ‘Top Ten Superfoods for Age-Defying Beauty,’ Açaí was described as ‘one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world.’ The most amazing surprise about Açaí is the taste, which is unlike any other fruit currently available in Australia. With overtones of chocolate and cherry, it’s a flavour you just have to try for yourself. This fruit proved to be one of the most difficult to track down but is currently available in a smoothie from Pulp Juice bars.
Cranberries
Best known for being a yummy addition to the Christmas turkey, cranberry juice is one of the most natural ways to prevent recurring urinary tract infections. Specific compounds in cranberries, called PAC’s, act to inhibit bacterial adherence to the uroepithelium, preventing subsequent bacterial colonization and urinary tract infections. The flavonoid contents of cranberries make them an important cancer fighter also. Compared with 20 common fruits tested, cranberries demonstrated the highest fresh-weight content of flavonoids and related phenolic acids, making this berry a powerful source of potentially cancer-preventative phytonutrients and antioxidants.
Pomegranates
Now although not technically a berry, they are well worth your attention due to their awesome anti-ageing properties. There are more polyphenol antioxidants in pomegranate juice than other fruit drink. At the Lipid Research Laboratory of Haifa’s Rambam Medical Centre, Dr. Michael Aviram, a technician biochemist, has spent 20 years researching ways to prevent and break down the deposits of cholesterol in the arteries - arteriosclerosis - that cause strokes and heart disease. Searching for natural antioxidants, he says he tested ‘many different substances before focusing on the pomegranate’. It’s juice, he found, contains a particularly powerful antioxidant, a flavonoid, more effective at fighting heart disease than those known in tomatoes and red wine. Native to Iran and Northern India, this fruit is enjoyed in many forms from fruit juice also known as grenadine to skin treatments or simply by scooping out the juice sacs and sprinkling them on your fruit salad.
Blackberries
Not to be confused with the type that you wear on your belt buckle for emailing people on the run! These little gems are a perfect addition to your morning muesli or fruit salad. Mega high in anti-ageing properties such as anthocyanins, blackberries are also believed to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout. Once picked, blackberries do not keep very long due to their fragile skins so frozen is your best option should you not have a blackberry bush in your backyard. Also, one full cup of blackberries contains only 62 delicious calories.
Strawberries
Everybody’s favourite! These little powerhouses are not only super high in vitamin C but super low in calories too! Strawberries are well-known for their high nutritional value and medicinal properties. Just eight strawberries a day provides more than 20 percent of the daily recommended folate intake for expectant mothers, and more vitamin C than an orange! Strawberries are the richest fruit source of antioxidants after blueberries and cranberries. Strawberries are high in dietary fibre and one of the lowest calorie fruits available making them excellent as a summertime treat.
To blend a quick and healthy smoothie, mix fresh or frozen berries, natural yoghurt, ice and a touch of honey for some sweetness.
Go Back
