Dried berries such as goji berries, goldenberries (Inca berries) and mulberries are a fantastic addition to your store cupboard. They make delicious snacks throughout the day, and can also be added to a number of different recipes for sweetness and extra nutritional value. Provided the berries are processed naturally, and there are no nasties added to them, they are a fantastic way to increase your antioxidant intake. They are our mid afternoon snack of choice here at Detox Trading.
Take a look at some of the reasons why we love these delicious berries, and we’ve included our very own berry and cacao granola recipe as well…
Goji Berries
Goji berries, also known as ‘wolfberries’ have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Traditionally they have been used for an array of issues ranging from mood lifting to eye, liver and immune system health. Goji berries have an extremely high nutritional value for such a small berry. The berries have an abundance of antioxidants, trace minerals and 18 amino acids (11 of which are essential). Every 4 ounce serving of dried goji berries provides 10 percent of your recommended daily intake of protein.
Goji berries also contain the following:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Iron
- Fibre
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Potassium
- Unsaturated fatty acids
- Phytochemicals (polysaccharides, zeazanthin, lutein)
Potential benefits of goji berries:
- Immune system support due to high antioxidant and vitamin c level.
- Healthy looking skin as a result of beta carotene.
- Help to stabilise blood sugar levels
- Liver tonic and support
Golden Berries
Golden berries, also known as Incan berries or cape gooseberries are a delicious balance between sweetness and tart. These berries originate from South America and belong to the same family as the tomato and the aubergine. They are bursting with nutrients and antioxidants, helping to reduce oxidative stress and the amount of free radical cells in the body. They have a higher level of vitamin A than other berries, with a lower amount of sugar making them a healthy addition to your diet.
Potential benefits of Golden Berries:
- High antioxidant content could help prevent certain diseases
- Presence of withnalolides (also present in ashwaghanda) could help with inflammation, and could help the body cope with stress
- They have a very low sugar and calorie content making them a wonderful snack
Mulberries
Black and white mulberries are a true superfood, they not only taste great, but each type has its own special benefit for our health. Both black and white mulberries are another great source of antioxidant rich food
White mulberries have a distinctive sweet caramel flavour, and a chewy fig like texture. They have an unusually high protein content for a berry, and also contain high levels of vitamin C, fibre and calcium. They have traditionally been used to help treat diabetes and lower cholesterol level.
Potential benefits of mulberries:
- Studies are underway to test whether they can help lower cholesterol levels in the body
- Support liver health
- Could help stabilise blood sugar levels
Detox Trading supplies premium quality organic superfoods, all certified by the UK Soil Association. Our family-run business is committed to selling affordable superfood products whilst maintaining their certified organic status and supporting a healthy lifestyle.