Physalis

Did You Know

• In India, Physalis is a common medicinal herb used by Muthuvan tribes living in the Shola forest regions against jaundice.

• Store a Physalis in a cool dry place, not the refrigerator. Unripe fruit can be picked and left to ripen in a sunny place until bright orange.

• Other names for Physalis include cape gooseberry, golden berry, Pichu berry, ground cherry, Aztec berry, Inca berry, and Peruvian ground cherry.

• The French name for Physalis is, amour en cage which translates to “love in a cage” – a reference to the flavorsome berry inside the casing.

• Physalis are indigenous to South America in the high altitude tropical Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.

Health Benefits

• Physalis contains vitamin B3 – niacin that is considered to enhance the blood flow in painful areas. It is useful to increase the flexibility and reduce the pain. 

• Physalis has vitamin A which is the essential ingredient for healthy eyesight and age-related eye disorder like night blindness, cataract, and macular degeneration. Deficiency of vitamin A can cause difficulty in seeing at night. Intake of Physalis regularly will protect your eyes and prevent eye diseases.

• Eating Physalis on a daily basis can be helpful to eliminate oxidative stress. It helps to avoid and treat cognitive disease like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Physalis are low calorie fruit, with just 53 calories and one gram of fat. Physalis is also the rich source of nutrients which is essential for healthy living. It has lots of dietary fiber and carbohydrates which keep you satiated for a longer period.

• Physalis plant contains alkaloids like, flavonoids and withanolides which prevent fibrosis in liver and kidney. It can also reduce the fibrosis and studies suggests that intake of Physalis in any form protects the body from fibrosis in liver and kidney.

*Disclaimer: Please seek professional medical advice for a diet that fits your needs.