The Health Benefits of the Golden Berry
When we hear the phrase “superfood” it’s
hard not to think of chia seeds, spirulina, berries, kale and other
foods we’ve come to associate with good health. But few people know
about the golden berry, a perennial plant that bears yellowish-orange
fruit originating in South America, where it has been used for many
generations as food and especially as a very important medicinal
ingredient for local doctors. The golden berry can be identified by its
small size, its bright color, and its sweet-sour taste, and alongside
these, it also has a large number of health benefits that make it a food
that should be known and eaten. Read on and discover the special
features of the golden berry that will help you live a long healthy
life.
Before we begin, a little more about golden
berries
The origin of the golden berry is in South America, mainly from the
Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It has been growing for thousands
of years in these mountains, where altitude conditions, terrain, and
weather allow it to grow naturally and in large quantities. The fruits
of this plant are rich in many nutrients such as iron, fiber, vitamin C,
antioxidants, protein, vitamin B3, phosphorus, calcium, beta-carotene
and many others. These fruits can be integrated into the daily diet of
healthy salads, cakes, bread, jams, sauces, shakes and can even be dried
and added to some trail mix. There is no problem eating golden berry
regularly, but be careful not to consume more than 45 grams of it a day.
1. Contains a high amount of antioxidants
One of the most significant benefits of the golden berry and one of the
reasons it is considered a superfood is that it has high levels of
antioxidants, which according to studies help to prevent certain chronic
diseases. Like carotenoids and polyphenolic compounds, the antioxidants
found in golden berries can neutralize free radicals that damage
healthy cells and may even turn them into cancerous cells. In addition,
because it is rich in antioxidants, the golden berry helps to prevent
fibrosis (a pathological process of creating connective tissues in
damaged organs or tissues as part of a failed body repair attempt) in
different parts of the body and according to studies on mice, golden
berries help prevent kidney and tissue problems caused by oxidative
damage.
2. Anti-inflammatory properties
If you suffer from arthritis, gout, muscle aches, chronic pain or even
hemorrhoids, the anti-inflammatory compounds of golden berries can
soothe the pain and improve your overall health. Studies from the
National University of Colombia show that there is a direct link between
the anti-inflammatory compounds in gold berries and phagocytosis
(carried out by cells called phagocytes that ingest foreign bodies such
as bacteria, viruses, monoclonal fungi, etc.) that help fight infectious
agents entering our body. In addition, these compounds help improve
heart health by reducing the risk of arterial and vascular inflammation
and prevent the development of atherosclerosis and various
cardiovascular diseases.
3. Balances cholesterol
While most people think that fat is bad, humans actually need a wide
variety of essential fatty acids for proper functioning of many
different body processes. For example, oleic acid and linoleic acid,
which are abundant in golden berries, help reduce the amount of bad
cholesterol (LDL) in our bodies and stabilize the overall cholesterol
levels to ensure a healthy and functioning heart. In addition, the
phytochemicals found in golden berries, polyphenols, and carotenoids,
along with pectin fiber, also help maintain a normal cholesterol level
in the body, along with regulation of high blood pressure if necessary.
4. Aids weight watching and loss
The golden berry is considered to be a healthy and low-calorie food that
is recommended to be included in your diet if you want to lose weight
because it contains only 53 calories per 100 grams. Also, the
recommended daily intake of sugars and fiber is 90 and 30 grams
respectively, and golden berry can provide you with about 15% of the
daily intake of these nutrients. At the same time, eating golden berries
does not burden the body with extra calories and fat, so it encourages
success in your diet. Make sure you don’t consume more than 45 grams of
them a day because studies in Turkey indicate that excessive eating of
these berries may cause high blood pressure and other problems.
5. Prevents the development of cancer
The golden berry is rich in bioethanol, a unique organic compound that
is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. This compound
can slow or even reverse the spread of cancer cells in the body, so a
daily intake of golden berries will stimulate anticancer activity and
prevent the development of the disease. A study of healthy cancer cells
conducted at Taiwan's Tainan Hospital shows that this compound prevented
the development of cancer, prevented cell death (apoptosis) and stopped
the circulation of cancer cells. In addition, a study of human liver
cells conducted at Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan shows that
golden berry extract can kill cancer cells through mitochondrial
processes responsible for producing chemical energy and storing and
preserving the hereditary material.
6. Helps to control and prevent diabetes
Some of the compounds that are large in size can slow the breakdown and
absorption of simple sugars in our bodies, the main source of which is
simple carbohydrates. This means that the body and bloodstream are not
flooded with excessive sugar quickly after a large, rich meal, and the
insulin receptors are properly regulated. Blood sugar fluctuations are
the main cause of diabetes, and they can be very dangerous for people
with this condition. In addition, according to a study conducted at the
University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya, eating
golden berries prevents and treats type 2 diabetes.
7. Maintains the liver and lungs
Liver health is very important, as it’s the body's largest and most
important detoxifier. At the end of 2013, the Research Department of
Herbs at the Cairo National Research Center reported that golden berries
may give the liver and kidneys protection from various diseases such as
scarring of the liver tissue - cirrhosis. The study found that the
various compounds in golden berry may also be effective in protecting
other organs, including the lungs. To date, a study is underway to
examine the possibility that compounds of the golden berry will be
effective as a possible treatment for lung cancer.
8. Good for the eyes and helps prevent eye diseases
Following studies conducted at the University of Zarzik in Egypt, there
are many researchers who believe that golden berries have the potential
to improve eye health due to the high amount of carotenoids in them. The
carotenoids in golden berries reduce oxidative stress on the eye
systems, prevent the development of cataracts that can lead to blindness
and slow the onset of macular degeneration while maintaining our vision
as we age.