Why we love dried berries

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 up your antioxidant intake. They are our healthy 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)

You can use goji berries as a healthy snack on their own, sprinkle them on your breakfast cereal or smoothie, mix them in with salads or use them in baking. 

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. 

Try adding golden berries to your breakfast porridge or smoothie, salads or use them as an ingredient in baking. 

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. 

Black mulberries are rich in protein and iron, which can help to increase energy levels by delivering oxygen rich blood cells throughout the body. They also contain vitamin K, vitamin C, fibre and potassium. 

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

Mixed berry and cacao granola recipe

Ingredients 

1kg rolled oats

100g goji berries

100g mulberries

100g golden berries

150g cacao nibs

50g coconut flakes 

80ml coconut oil

½ tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp cacao powder
200g extra virgin coconut oil
150 ml honey or agave syrup (add slightly more for a sweeter tooth!)
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g of almonds or other nuts of your choosing
50g flax seeds

This is a basic recipe which you can experiment with, by adding different ingredients and quantities to suit your taste.
The oil and honey will help the oats to crisp up and cluster, so adding more will give you more crunchy clusters.

• Line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper and preheat the oven to 200C.
• Mix the oats, agave/ honey, coconut oil and vanilla extract in a bowl and make sure all the oats are well covered.
• Add the flax seeds, nuts, cinnamon and cacao powder and mix well. 
• Add the oats to the baking trays, spreading as thinly and evenly as possible (this helps to make the granola more crispy).
• Bake in the oven for 20-30 mins or until golden brown. 
• Let the granola cool on the baking trays.
• Add the berries, coconut flakes and cacao nibs and mix well. 
• Store in airtight glass container, (make sure the granola is completely cool before storing them as otherwise it may go soggy).
• Enjoy with your favourite nut milk!

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.