February 4, 2020
Wellness: Goji Berries and Pomegranate
As a fan of sticking to a healthy lifestyle as much as possible, I’m always looking for foods to add to my diet that are delicious and good for me at the same time.
These days, both goji berries and pomegranate have caught my eye. Incidentally, these superfoods, as they’re known in the nutrition world, are new additions to The Roundtree’s breakfast menu this year. Goji berries are being introduced this month while pomegranate will make an appearance this summer.
Let’s start with goji berries, which are a fruit that have grown in China for centuries and taste similar to cranberries. Anne Roland Lee, a registered dietician at Columbia University, says that they’re incredibly high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, which help boost your immune system. They’re also high in fiber, she says. and can help with weight loss.
You can find them at Asian markets, where they’re usually sold fresh. They’re also available at health food stores but are almost always in the dried form. “Be sure what you’re buying is 100% goji berry and not a mixture with another fruit,” says Lee. “Also, be aware that they can interact with blood thinners and blood pressure medication so you may have to limit the amount you eat.”
Try these tiny berries in salads, blend them in smoothies, and add them to your morning cereal, oatmeal or yogurt. You can even make a goji berry chutney and pair it with savory dishes such as roast chicken and lean pork.
Now, onto pomegranate, which grows in the Middle East, Asia and California. The fruit is also high in fiber and Vitamin C. It has three times the antioxidants of green tea and red wine and helps decrease your blood pressure and cholesterol. Similar to goji berries, pomegranate can interact with blood pressure medication and blood thinners so portion control may be in order.
Lee loves pomegranate in salads and on top of yogurt. The fruit doesn’t make for a great sauce, but pomegranate juice packs in a whopper dose of antioxidants. “Pick up a juice that’s purely pomegranate and not blended with other fruits like cranberries,” says Lee.