What Is The #1 Healthiest Dried Fruit?

Summary

This video explores the health benefits of dried fruits, highlighting raisins' potential to reduce LDL cholesterol and the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org identifies Goji berries, or 'gois', as potentially the healthiest dried fruit, noting their affordability in Asian markets and traditional medicinal uses. Goji berries are said to benefit eye health, aging, and organ function. A cautionary note is provided for pregnant women and those taking certain medications due to the presence of betane and potential interactions.

Takeaways

• 🍇 Dried fruit, such as prunes, can be beneficial for bone health.
• 😋 Dried fruits are a convenient and tasty snack, rich in fiber, antioxidants, and polyphenols.
• 🍯 The removal of water from dried fruits concentrates sugar and calories, increasing their glycemic index.
• 📊 A study found that raisin intake can reduce serum LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidized LDL levels, potentially lowering the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• 👨‍⚕️ Dr. Michael Greger suggests that Goji berries, also known as Lycium or wolfberries, might be the healthiest dried fruit.
• 🛒 Goji berries are cheaper in Asian markets compared to natural health food stores where they can be quite expensive.
• 🌿 Goji berries have been used in traditional medicine for their various health benefits, including eye health, anti-aging, and strengthening of the kidneys, liver, and lungs.
• ⚠️ Pregnant women should be cautious with Goji berries due to the presence of betanin, which may harm fetal health.
• 💊 There is a possibility of Goji berries interacting with certain medications, such as blood thinners and drugs for diabetes or high blood pressure.
• 🤔 Concerns about sugar in fruits and dried fruits, and their potential to feed cancer are mentioned, with a suggestion to explore further in a subsequent video.
• 🍬 The script raises questions about the signs of eating too much fruit and its implications on health.

Q & A

What are the potential health benefits of prunes mentioned in the previous video?

The previous video discussed the benefits of prunes for our bones, although specific details are not provided in the transcript.

What is the main topic of the current video?

The current video focuses on identifying the healthiest dried fruit according to Dr. Michael Greger, which may be different from common expectations.

Why might dried fruits be considered a healthy snack option?

Dried fruits are a healthy snack option because they are a great source of fiber, antioxidants, and polyphenols.

What is a potential drawback of consuming dried fruits?

A potential drawback is that the removal of water from dried fruits concentrates the sugar and calories into a smaller package and increases its glycemic index.

What health benefits are associated with raisin intake according to the study mentioned?

The study found that raisin intake can reduce serum LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidized LDL levels, potentially reducing the risk for developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

What is Dr. Michael Greger's recommendation for the healthiest dried fruit to eat?

Dr. Greger recommends 'gojis' or 'Lycium barbarum', also known as wolfberries, as the healthiest dried fruit.

Why are Goji berries considered to be more beneficial than other dried fruits?

Goji berries have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years and are believed to protect eye health, slow signs of aging, and strengthen the kidneys, liver, and lungs.

What is the caution advised for pregnant women regarding Goji berries?

Pregnant women are cautioned against consuming Goji berries due to the presence of betaine, a compound that may harm fetal health.

Are there any potential interactions between Goji berries and certain medications?

Yes, Goji berries may interact with certain drugs, including blood thinners and medications for diabetes or high blood pressure.

What is the concern about sugar in dried fruits in relation to cancer?

The concern is that sugar might feed cancer, although the transcript does not provide a direct answer to this question.

What signs might indicate that you are eating too much fruit?

The transcript suggests that there will be an answer to this question in a subsequent video or part of the series.

Outlines

00:00

🍇 Healthiest Dried Fruit: Goji Berries

This paragraph introduces the topic of the healthiest dried fruit according to Dr. Michael Gregor. It contrasts the benefits of prunes for bones from a previous video with the current focus on dried fruit's overall health benefits and potential drawbacks due to concentrated sugars and calories. The study mentioned shows that raisin intake can reduce LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidized LDL levels, potentially lowering the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Gregor suggests Goji berries, also known as Lycium or wolf berries, as the healthiest dried fruit option, available at a lower cost in Asian markets compared to health food stores. Goji berries are noted for their traditional medicinal uses, including eye health, anti-aging properties, and support for the kidneys, liver, and lungs. A cautionary note is added for pregnant individuals due to the presence of betaine, which may affect fetal health, and for those taking certain medications, as Goji berries might interact with blood thinners, diabetes, or high blood pressure medications.

Keywords

💡Prunes

Prunes are dried plums known for their laxative properties and nutritional benefits, particularly for bone health as mentioned in a previous video. In the context of this video, prunes serve as a comparison to the 'healthiest dried fruit' discussed, emphasizing the variety of health benefits different dried fruits can offer.

💡Dried Fruit

Dried fruit refers to fruit from which the majority of the natural liquid content has been removed, either through drying processes or other methods. The video script discusses dried fruit as a snack option rich in fiber, antioxidants, and polyphenols, but also notes the concentration of sugar and calories due to the removal of water.

💡Fiber

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that plays a crucial role in digestion and gut health. The script mentions fiber as one of the beneficial components found in dried fruits, highlighting its importance in a healthy diet.

💡Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances that help protect the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals. The video emphasizes that dried fruits are a great source of antioxidants, which can contribute to overall health and potentially reduce the risk of certain diseases.

💡Polyphenols

Polyphenols are a group of over 500 natural compounds found in plants that have antioxidant properties. The script points out that dried fruits, particularly the subject of the video, are rich in polyphenols, which are beneficial for health.

💡Glycemic Index

The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels. The video script notes that the removal of water from dried fruits increases their glycemic index, which is an important consideration for individuals monitoring their sugar intake.

💡Raisins

Raisins are dried grapes and are highlighted in the script for their potential health benefits, such as reducing serum LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidized LDL levels, which can lower the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

💡Dr. Michael Greger

Dr. Michael Greger is a physician and author known for his work on nutrition. In the script, he is referenced as the authority who identifies the healthiest dried fruit, adding credibility to the video's claim about goji berries.

💡Goji Berries

Goji berries, also known as Lycium barbarum or wolfberries, are presented in the video as potentially the healthiest dried fruit. They are noted for their traditional medicinal uses and various health benefits, including eye health and organ support.

💡Betane

Betane is a compound found in goji berries that the script mentions may have potential risks for fetal health. This serves as a caution for pregnant individuals considering the consumption of goji berries.

💡Medication Interactions

The script warns that goji berries may interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners and drugs for diabetes or high blood pressure. This highlights the importance of consulting healthcare providers before regularly consuming goji berries.

💡Sugar

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that provides energy but can be harmful in excess. The video script addresses concerns about the sugar content in dried fruits and its potential to feed cancer, indicating a broader discussion about sugar consumption and health.

Highlights

Dried fruit is a great source of fiber, antioxidants, and polyphenols.

The water removal process in dried fruits concentrates sugar and calories, increasing glycemic index.

Raisins intake can reduce serum LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidized LDL levels.

Raisins have the potential to significantly reduce the risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Michael Greger identifies the healthiest dried fruit as Goji berries.

Goji berries are cheaper in Asian markets compared to natural health food stores.

Goji berries have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.

Goji berries are believed to protect and maintain eye health, slow aging, and strengthen organs.

A caution for pregnant women: Goji berries contain betane, which may harm fetal health.

Goji berries may interact with certain drugs, including blood thinners and medications for diabetes or high blood pressure.

A question raised about the sugar content in fruit and its relation to cancer.

The video promises to address signs of eating too much fruit in a subsequent part.

The importance of choosing dried fruits like Goji berries for their health benefits.

The video encourages viewers to pause and guess the healthiest dried fruit before revealing the answer.

A discussion on the potential health benefits of consuming Goji berries regularly.

A note on the need for further research to determine the safety of Goji berries during pregnancy.

The video suggests that Goji berries are a top contender for the healthiest dried fruit.

Transcripts

in a previous video we saw the awesome

benefits of prunes for our bones but in

this video we're going to learn

according to Dr Michael Gregor the

number one healthiest dried fruit and it

might not be the one you're expecting

now dried fruit can be a really easy and

delicious snack it's a great source of

fiber antioxidants and in particular

polyphenols however because the water's

been removed from dried fruit this does

concentrate all the sugar and calories

into this much smaller package and

increases its glycemic index however

interestingly this study found that

raisin intake was shown to reduce serum

LDL cholesterol triglycerides and

oxidized LDL levels quote thus raisins

have the potential to significantly

reduce the risk for developing diabetes

or cardiovascular disease but when Dr

Gregor of nutritionfacts.org was asked

which the healthiest dried fruit we can

eat is here was his answer pause the

video and put your guess in the

comments gois go to the Asian market so

you can get these with they called

lickum berries ly c i u m or icium

berries or wolf berries that's just GOI

and it's dir cheap cheaper than raisins

whereas you go to a natural health food

store like Goji berries are like through

the roof and they actually have all

sorts of beneficial effects so that's

probably the is that the healthiest

dried

fruit it's certainly up there if you're

going to put dried fruit on something go

for the gois Goji berries have been used

in traditional medicine for thousands of

years being said to protect and maintain

Eye Health slow signs of aging and

strengthen the kidneys liver and lungs

just a small word of caution for those

who are pregnant Goji berries contain

betane a compound that may harm fetal

health and so further research is needed

to determine whether they're safe during

pregnancy there's also a chance gois may

interact with certain drugs including

blood thinners and medications for

diabetes or high blood pressure so you

may need to check this before consuming

them regularly but what about all the

sugar that's in fruit and dried fruit

and for example doesn't sugar feed

cancer what are the signs you're eating

too much fruit well you can hear the

answer next