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Fast-growing fruit trees for your backyard harvest<\/p>\n
Here are five fast-growing fruit trees you can plant in your backyard for a quicker harvest.<\/p>\n
unbranded – Lifestyle<\/p>\n
In recent years, goji berries have earned a reputation as an antioxidant-rich<\/a>, inflammation-fighting superfood.\u00a0<\/p>\n You might think of goji berries as being a tart, flavorful snack<\/a>, or a healthy topping to your breakfast cereal. But their reach extends much further. For centuries, these nutrient-dense berries have stayed center stage in traditional Chinese medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n Goji berries boast a wealth of potential benefits; some studies note goji berries may offer support for your eyesight, cardiovascular health, immunity and more, according to a 2022 review<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Experts say adding goji berries into your weekly rotation of fruits<\/a> could promote a healthy dietary pattern; here\u2019s what you need to know.\u00a0<\/p>\n Are goji berries good for you?<\/p>\n Absolutely. Goji berries contain a variety of micronutrients (including vitamin A<\/a>, B vitamins and zinc) and macronutrients (like protein and fiber). They\u2019re also abundant in amino acids, says Annette Frain<\/a>, a registered dietitian at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Weight Management Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n Goji berries are high in vitamin C, and the immune-boosting<\/a> benefits of this essential nutrient need little introduction. Antioxidants like vitamin C reduce oxidative stress, which helps lower inflammation in the body, says Max Goldstein<\/a>, a chef registered dietitian at Yale New Haven Health. Having a sufficient level of vitamin C has been linked with having a strong immune system, which in turn could promote wound healing and help prevent infection, according to a 2017 study<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Goji berries, and fruit more generally, contain fiber and natural sugars, which provide sustained energy, says Goldstein. They\u2019re also a surprisingly high source of calcium and iron. \u201cDried (goji) berries have twice as much iron as raisins<\/a>, and three times as much calcium,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n The berries also have powerful carotenoids, namely zeaxanthin and lutein. These nutrients offer potential benefits for your eyesight, and might lower your risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a 2021 study<\/a> conducted by researchers at UC Davis<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do dried goji berries lose their nutrients?<\/p>\n In the U.S., fresh goji berries are a little tricky to come by. That\u2019s because they\u2019re primarily imported from Asia, and are known to spoil quickly, Goldstein says.<\/p>\n For this reason, they\u2019re easiest to pick up in their dried form, or taken as a dietary supplement<\/a>. The good news? Even if you\u2019re not able to get your hands on fresh goji berries, \u201cit’s perfectly fine to eat them dried,\u201d says Frain.\u00a0<\/p>\n When the goji berries are dehydrated, they may lose some of their water soluble vitamins, but they still maintain a healthy amount of nutrients<\/a>. And similar to other dried fruits, the sugar content in dried goji berries becomes a lot more concentrated. \u201cAgain, that sugar in the fruit isn’t necessarily bad for us, but it’s definitely something to consider,” says Goldstein.\u00a0<\/p>\n