Cape Gooseberry

Physalis Peruviana

Other Names : Physalis peruviana, Peruvian cherry, Cape Gooseberry, Aztec berry, poha, harankash, Physalis, Golden Berries, Golden Berry
is native to South American Andes region. The berries are small, round, orange-yellow color, encased inside a Chinese lantern like papery thin husk.
See also :

• Indian Gooseberry
• European Gooseberry

Special Precautions of Cape Gooseberry

• Eating unripe golden berries can be poisonous, so picking them from the wild is usually not recommended.
• If you suffer from an allergy to other berries, be sure to speak with your doctor.
• Although golden berries are more closely related to nightshade plants than cherries or other berries, the allergenic potential is much the same.

Health Benefits and uses of Cape Gooseberry are

• Antioxidant Content: The most important benefits of golden berries are derived from their high antioxidant content, which makes them an ideal nutritional supplement for preventing certain chronic diseases, including certain types of cancers. Antioxidants, like the carotenoids and polyphenolic compounds found in golden berries, can neutralize free radicals, the damaging byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous ones. This is the quality that makes golden berries a “superfood”. Research has shown that polyphenols can stop the spread of various types of cancer, making it a very important food source in many parts of the world.
• Anti-Inflammatory Activity: One of the other effects of antioxidants is a reduction in inflammation. If you suffer from arthritis, gout, muscle aches, chronic pain, or even hemorrhoids, anti-inflammatory compounds can soothe these conditions and increase your quality of life. Inflammation of the arteries and blood vessels is also very dangerous for the cardiovascular system, so golden berries are also able to improve heart health by reducing the strain on that system and preventing the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. It effectively lowers blood pressure as well, which further decreases the symptoms of hypertension and gives relief to your heart.
• Weight Loss: As a low-calorie food (only 53 calories per 100 grams), golden berries present an interesting option for people trying to lose weight. These tiny fruits deliver a large percentage of your daily nutrients, yet don’t contribute negative fats or calories to your overall intake, helping to keep weight loss goals on track!
• Fatty Acids: Although many people think of fats as bad things to put into our body, we actually need a wide variety of essential fatty acids for many of the natural processes in our body. For example, the oleic and linoleic acid in golden berries actually lower the amount of “bad” cholesterol in our bodies and re-establishes the cholesterol balance to ensure heart health in a different way.
• Withanolide Content: You don’t often hear about withanolides in health food discussions, as they are quite rare, but they are found in golden berries. These unique organic compounds, similar to those found in ginseng, are powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents that can prevent apoptosis, or automatic cell death, and can slow or even reverse the spread of cancerous cells throughout the body.
• Diabetes Management: Some of the compounds found within golden berries can slow the breakdown and intake of simple sugars from carbohydrates. This means that the body and bloodstream is not flooded with sugar, and insulin receptors are properly regulated. Drastic blood sugar fluctuations are the main cause of diabetes, and can be very dangerous for people suffering from that condition, meaning that golden berries are an effective preventative method and treatment for Type II diabetes.
• Liver and Kidney Health: Although the exact pathway for this benefit isn’t completely understood, one of the withanolides contained in golden berries has been associated with a reduction in liver scarring and a reversal of liver degradation. Furthermore, golden berries are linked to optimal kidney health, helping to eliminate toxins by stimulating urination and flushing out excess fats, salts, and toxins from the lymphatic system.
• Vision Health: Due to the high carotenoid content found in golden berries, they are often suggested for boosting the health of your eyes. Carotenoids specifically eliminate oxidative stress on the ocular system, preventing the development of cataracts and slowing the onset of macular degenerations, keeping your vision in top working order as you age.
• Immune System Benefits: The significant level of vitamin C (almost 15% of the daily recommended intake) in a single serving of golden berries makes this a very important fruit for the immune system. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) stimulates the production of white blood cells and also has certain antioxidant properties itself. Furthermore, vitamin C is a key component in the production of collagen, which is what the body needs to repair and produce cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels.