Berry-good: The new berries and what they can do for you

We're forever hearing about new health and food fads, but one that seems to keep popping up is the rise and rise of "the new berries" - and no, we're not talking the good ol' strawberry. You might have heard some models and other celebrities swearing by the goji berry, or downing loads of noni juice in their plight to always look and feel fantastic. But what do they really do, and is it worth getting in on the action? Here's the facts, you decide for yourself.

Goji berry

Goji berries earned their fame when it was discovered that they contained more than 500 times more vitamin c than the queen of vitamin c - the orange. And as we found a few months back, vitamin c is responsible for cell renewal, and for its cold-fighting powers, so the more the better. But the buck doesn't stop at vitamin c, oh no, we could go on for days about this little ball of goodness! It contains 19 amino acids - the building blocks of protein including all eight that are essential for life, 21 trace minerals, including germanium, an anti-cancer trace mineral, B-complex vitamins, vitamin e, Beta-Sitosterol which lowers cholesterol, essential fatty acids... I could go on!
And if all this isn't enough to sell you, think that the Chinese have been using the Goji berry for 3000 years - and they have one of the longest life expectancies in the planet.
The best way to enjoy the benefits of the goji berry is in juice form, where you'd think anything this good for you must taste terrible, it's really quite tasty! Take a shot in the morning and see if you feel the difference.

Acai berry

The acai (pronounced ah-sah-hee) berry is found growing on palm trees in the Amazon, and they have earned themselves the title of "super food" of late because of their medicinal uses and particularly their anti-oxidant properties, but the people of the Amazon have been using it for centuries, apparently describing it as 'the milk of the Amazon'.
Like the goji berry, acai berries are absolutely choc-full of goodness including significant amounts of vitamin E, fibre, calcium, proteins, omega 3, omega 6 and Anthocyanins, Polyphenols and Phytochemicals. Which means exactly, what? Well it means that it's good at fighting free-radicals, and maintaining general health. But impressively, in a recent University of Florida study, the acai berry extract was shown to trigger a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukaemia cells in a test tube environment.
Getting the acai berry locally is virtually impossible, because they perish quickly. Your best bet is to find acai berries in various health juices as well as Jalna Vitalize Immune yogurt, which contains vitamin C and echinacea, together with acai berry, raspberry, pear and a daily vitamin and mineral boost.

Noni juice

We first heard of this one when gorgeous Australian Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr said that Noni juice was the key to her boundless energy and abundant beauty. But what is it really?
Traditionally used by the people of the Pacific Islands including Tahiti, Hawaii and Samoa and in India as a tonic to help in the maintenance of general well-being, Noni (the fruit the juice is made from) is said to be endlessly beneficial. From the relief of various minor gastrointestinal disorders (stomach aches and constipation), skin inflammation and infection to mouth sores, fever, contusions and sprains. The juice from the fruit is applied directly to mouth ulcers, aching teeth or sore gums. There are reports that the mashed ripe fruit was credited with providing quick relief from a painful boil, a carbuncle, a stomach ulcer and an inflamed elbow in Hawaii, while the fresh, young fruit was mashed with salt and applied on deep cuts, or poulticed over broken bones.
In juice for is the best way to reap the benefits of the Noni fruit.

Lycium berry

These berries are very nourishing and help supply the important nutrients that cells, tissues and organs need for proper functioning. They contain betaine, vitamin A, B1, B2, C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zeaxanthin, physalein and linolein acid. Studies have shown an extract of this herb helps prevent fat absorption in liver cells and helps promote the regeneration of liver cells. It has also shown a hypoglycemia effect; helping to lower the level of blood sugars.
Lycium berries are a good supplement for the liver and kidneys, it can help produce sperm and blood and has been used successfully to clear vision problems. You can enjoy the goodness of the Lycium berry in herbal form by ingesting 20 to 45 drops between two and four times daily. Not recommended if nursing or pregnant.

Mangosteen juice

Mangosteen juice is a tropical fruit beverage made by liquefying the Southeast Asian mangosteen. As with many fruits, the mangosteen is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, potassium, iron, and calcium. The mangosteen is not widely available, so the juice is imported. While nutritionists have not tested the countless claims of mangosteen juice bottlers, many companies profess that this "Queen of Fruit" can cure everything from cancer to dysentery to bacterial infections.
No major studies on humans have proven that drinking mangosteen juice on a daily basis would offer significant improvement in illness. However, increasing one's daily dosage of antioxidants, even from supplements, has been proven to boost our absorption of vitamins and therefore strengthen immunity.
It's unlikely that mangosteen juice offers cures, but it does make a sweet and tasty, if expensive, beverage.

Sea Buckthorn berry

The Greeks were the first to recognize the benefits of the Sea Buckthorn berries 1,200 years ago, it has since been used to treat skin irritation, sunburn, wounds, inflammation, gastric problems, coughs, and mucous membrane disorders. Impressively, in contains more than 100 different kinds of nutrients and bio-active substances including vitamins, fatty acids and free amino acids.