Berry Juice: The Elixir of Life

By Peter Ragnar

Life on a sub-Arctic island was never easy, especially in the mid-1800s. If you got sick, you most likely died. There weren’t any stores, doctors, or hospitals. In the winter you never saw the sun. The icy sky would simply brighten up like dawn in the middle of the day and then fade away. It was here that my great-grandfather spent 105 years.

By the time Great-Grandpa reached 50, the average person in the United States who was born the same year he was had already died. (Life expectancy in the U.S. in 1900 was 47 years.) You’ve got to ask yourself: What kept Great-Grandpa alive under such harsh and cruel conditions, and not only him but countless other centenarians living in cold mountain hideaways and other remote locations? Why were they rewarded with health and great longevity?

My quest began in the Aland Islands between Finland and Sweden and took me to the Himalayan mountains before I returned to my very own berry patch in the Great Smoky Mountains. I’ll explain. I asked Grandma when she was in her mid-90s, “Is there any family secret to longevity? Your sister Hilma is now 100, and I’ve never seen you sick a day in my life. What gives?” She gave me one of those sweet grandmotherly smiles and quietly whispered, “Maybe it’s the berries.” I suddenly realized how many recipes we had for lingonberries.

Lingonberries are related to blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, and other varieties of berry, but what all berries and grapes have in common are the antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins. If you’ve ever picked blackberries and had a hard time washing the stain from your fingers, that’s because the juice has a reduced molecular size, which also allows it to provide better blood flow and oxygen to capillary-rich organs like the retina of the eye and the brain. Funny, now that I think of it, Grandma never had any varicose veins or wore glasses.

Not only do blueberries, lingonberries, and cranberries demonstrate proven anti-cancer activity, they also prevent the oxidation of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is linked to heart attacks and crippling strokes. Berry juices eat up cholesterol, fungi, and E. coli bacteria and spit them out.

Perhaps the most impressive berry juice is that of the goji berry from the Himalayas. Li Qing Yuen, who was alleged to be 252 years old, is reported to have consumed a ‘soup’ of lycium (goji berry) every day. Hmm, raw berry soup!

One of the most amazing DVDs I have ever watched was by the Johns Hopkins-trained oncologist Dr. Victor A. Marcial-Vega. It is titled “Acid Is for Batteries, Not Healthy People.” Under a microscope, you can see the astounding transformation of a diseased red blood cell into a healthy cell. The miracle took only twelve days of goji berry juice.

I not only love the taste of the juice but also use the whole berries in my breakfast of soaked oat groats. I cant wait for goji berry wine. Mmm, resveratrol-rich immortality wine! Oops, I’m getting carried away.

Like I said, my quest for the fountain of youth ended up in my own backyard. You might already have an idea of the types of berries I’ve discovered. So, is berry juice the fountain of youth? If I’m allowed to continue to write for EnlightenNext magazine for the next hundred years, you’ll know, won’t you?

Peter Ragnar is a natural life scientist, modern-day Taoist wizard, and self-master par excellence. A martial arts practitioner for over fifty years, he is renowned for his teachings on optimal health and longevity. He is the author of twenty books, including The Art and Science of Physical Invincibility.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer C.

5:24PM PDT on Jul 3, 2011

Healthy drink recipes. Thanks for sharing.

send a green star

Mervi R.

5:35AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

Being from Finland, berries have always been a part of my diet, the ones growing in the garden as well as those in the woods.

Ecodiva G.

6:05PM PDT on Sep 25, 2009

I'm not a big fan of fruits; more of a vegetable person but I cannot live without berries. Any kind of berries will do for me ;) but I'm also a fan of functional foods/drinks

Recently I read a report on ORAC values of various magic juices on the market and surprisingly the Concord Grape juice was the leader and it's under $5 ;) followed by a g3 juice http://www.nsedreams.com/pwp/changeCountry.do?textCacheLocale=en-US&nextPage=/pwp/productInfo.do?prodId=02003698&gwpID=PLRcSaUVSPXRQSQOWWMSTdOtRZTh-7PyOu&pwpID=CA6034196

more on it here www.nuselfesteem.fruitfromheaven.com

and then the Mona Vie Acai berry juice and then Xango and the such...

Cheers!

Karla B.

12:52PM PDT on Jun 15, 2009

Our family LOVES this juice! More energy, more immunity, less inflamation and many friends who have decreased their prescription lenses or gotten rid of their glasses as it is so good for eyesight!
I actually have one ounce travel size that I will send free if anyone wants to taste test it. In addition, I have a document with numerous testimonies I can send via email. If you are serious about checking it out, your best bet is to give it a try for a month or two.
Email me at berger10@q.com.

Karla

Terri T.

5:55PM PDT on May 7, 2009

You see ads for it a lot,but there is no reputable company for it.Many scams are around regarding acai.

Virginia F.

5:14PM PDT on May 7, 2009

I'm surprised that there's no mention at all of the Acai berry. What's up with that?

Annelise H.

10:30PM PDT on May 6, 2009

Growing up in Scandinavia my favourite fruit have always been berries. I've only got one comment: if the juice is good for you, the whole berry is even better!
You can buy dried Goji berries at a reasonable cost and they are great with breakfast (soak them). I find the juice expensive.
Annelise

Charmaine G.

11:40AM PDT on May 6, 2009

I'm thinking of finding the tasty berry juice.

Mary R.

2:05PM PDT on May 5, 2009

Thank You Robyn Great article WOW!! I did my homework on this gojiberries. As seen on Oprah show with DR.Os.Lingonberries has been found to be the most nutritionally dense nutritional source on the planet! Fight cancer, heart, macular disease.Rich in antioxidants.Health food store,s in Canada have it in tea,juice,berries,

Dee M.

6:16PM PDT on May 4, 2009

Hi where do you find these Goji berries? i have never heard of them before but id sure like to get some lol