Search This Blog

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Goji Berry Cider

Today I was loving my homemade goji berry cider.  I'm traditionally a fan of apple cider, but because of the high sugar content, I've been avoiding apple juice these days.  I started off adding goji berry juice to tea, but I think the cider will be replacing that mixture for a few days at least!  With 2 g. of sugar per serving, but a lot of flavor in that tablespoon - I'm set to go.


Recipe:
Mix 1 Tb. goji berry juice + 1/4 t. ground cinnamon in a food processor or blender *add Stevia or vanilla if desired
Add 1/2 c. boiling water and mix




  • $32.16 from Vitacost.com, it will last a month and expires after a month
    Goji berry juice is a juice derived from the goji berry, of course. The goji berry is found in the Himalaya and other mountain ranges in China and have become the antioxidant powerhouse they are thanks to the news that they cure a number of ailments and prevent a host of others. Goji berries rank extremely high on the antioxidant scale, boasting of more antioxidant value than blueberries, strawberries and spinach put together. It's believed that goji berry juice can help prevent cancer, improve vision and heart health, improve sexual health, regulate blood pressure, and counter premature aging
This fruit is good to consume because you won't find preservatives and other additives in them. So, you'll have a healthy regimen, even when you're away from home. However, more people prefer to consume the healthy beverage instead. Why? Well, one reason is that everyone doesn't care for the taste of dried fruit. This fruit, in particular has a twangy, bitter sort of taste. It has a mixture of sweet and sour flavor in it.

In addition to adults, children also consume this health beverage. Some children are not too keen about consuming something that has a bitter twang. It may also take them longer to chew and digest this fruit as opposed to drinking a portion of the juice within seconds. With the dried fruit, all you have is the taste from that and nothing else. On the other hand, with the juice, you have more options. Even though both are good to consume for health purposes, the juice can be combined with other juices. This will help to dilute and lessen the bitter taste that comes from the dried fruit.
  According to sources citing the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute analysis, the fruit contains more beta carotene than carrots, the fruit also contains over 18 amino acids, 21 trace minerals, and substantial amounts of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin E. The analysis also apparently discovered the berries to contain essential fatty acids and to be an incredibly rich source of carotenoids (more than any other known food). 



The essential oil component of Cinnamon has anti-coagulant properties, which helps to thin blood and improves circulation. (Caution is advised for those already on blood thinning medication). It also exhibits anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. The anti-microbial action helps to preserve food and can be used in place of common food preservatives. It not only helps to prevent food spoilage by common bacteria, but also by yeasts. Cinnamon is one of the few herbs that can used to treat fungal growths like candida.

Cinnamon is a warming aromatic tonic that stimulates the digestive system and can help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Recent studies have found it to be quite effective for 'metabolic syndrome' a 'pre' stage of insulin resistant type 2 diabetes. As little as 2 teaspoons of the spice have shown a marked effect in people who were not on insulin medication. It achieves this effect by delaying emptying of the stomach content after a meal, which prevents blood sugar peaks. It also sensitizes insulin receptors and inhibits an enzyme that inactivates these receptors, thus making a significant impact on glucose uptake. This is great news as Cinnamon can so easily be added to foods and drinks as part of a normal diet. Another study has shown that Cinnamon can have a benefits in cognitive function

2 comments:

Deane said...

I have a story about Goji berries --

I was in Toronto, walking a couple blocks to my client's office one morning. I decided to stop in a high-end deli/c-store for some breakfast, and found some trail mix that looked good -- "Goji Berry Mix."

I waited in line, and when the lady rang it up, I was shocked to find out that it was a $17 bag of trail mix. Seventeen dollars for a bag of trail mix!? But, I was at the front of the line, and I didn't want to be embarrassed, so I paid it.

I almost wish it tasted bad, because that would have made a better story. But, the fact is that it was ridiculously awesome trail mix.

However, to this day, I maintain that "Goji Berry" is Tibetan for "give us all your money."

Jennifer Noble said...

Interesting story there - I think you would need to add in other ingredients to balance the taste, as goji berries tend to be on the bitter end in my opinion, however - we need to find these types of ingredients otherwise all we usually get is sweet. Glad it was some good stuff! Definitely energizing, right?!