What are ground cherry benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are ground cherry pros and cons and how buying them will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on ground cherry benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about ground cherry benefits and side effects. This will include ground cherry benefits for your health and potential risks, ground cherry water footprint and carbon footprint, ground cherry sustainability, if ground cherries are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if ground cherries are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about ground cherry benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Ground Cherry Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Ground cherry health benefits may include:
- improved vision
- protection against colds and flus
- regulated blood sugar
- sore throat relief
- digestive health
- hydration
- bone health
- boosted immunity
- detoxification
- cancer prevention
- lowered blood pressure
- lowered cholesterol
- reduced inflammation
- weight loss
Ground cherry side effects may include:
- pesticide consumption if not organic
- do not over-consume, be sure to eat in moderation as with any food
- wash thoroughly before consuming to avoid harmful bacteria and parasites
Additionally, ground cherries are…
- Alkaline pH level (fresh) once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
- A Nightshade Food
★★★★★
- The fastest, easiest solution for making nutrient-packed smoothies.
- Load it up with your favorite whole foods like nuts, berries and spinach.
- Push, twist and blend your way to a healthier lifestyle.
- We love it!
Environment
Water footprint: likely low, it takes 214 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of tomatoes / 26 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of tomatoes
Carbon footprint: likely low, 1.1 CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of tomatoes, a car driving equivalent of 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers
Destruction: low, no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Ground cherries are…
Animals
Kills: none, ground cherry production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, ground cherry production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from ground cherry production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Ground cherries are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
★★★★★
- Perfect for children ages 2-8.
- Available in paperback, ebook, audio formats.
- Suitable for vegan kids and vegan families (does not include farm animals, animal food products or byproducts).
- Written + Illustrated by HEALabel's Adriane Marie.
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Ground cherries…
- May have laborer issues
When are ground cherries in season? 📅
Ground cherries are in season during mid to late summer through early autumn/fall.
Where do most ground cherries come from? 📍
Most ground cherries come from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Are ground cherries nutritious? 🥗
Ground cherries are high in Vitamins A, C, and B-3 (Niacin).
They are also a good source of Vitamins B-1 (Thiamin) and offer Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) and the minerals non-heme iron, calcium, and phosphorus and contain phytochemical compounds called withanolides.
Other names for ground cherries? 🗣️
Other names for ground cherries are golden berries, inca berries, poha berries, goldenberries, husk cherries and cape gooseberries.
ground cherries are alkaline when fresh and acidic when dried, processed or canned.
Are ground cherries alkaline or acidic?
Ground cherries and all berries are alkaline when fresh and acidic when dried, processed or canned.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
ground cherries are gluten free. ground cherry benefits include fitting into a gluten free diet.
Are ground cherries gluten free?
Yes, ground cherries are gluten free. Ground cherries do not contain gluten. Ground cherries are a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
ground cherries are not a common food allergen. ground cherry benefits include being safe for most.
Are ground cherries a common food allergen?
No, ground cherries are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to ground cherries but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
ground cherries are a nightshade food.
Are ground cherries a nightshade food?
Yes, ground cherries are a nightshade food.
Common nightshade foods include: white potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, tomatillos, goji berries, pimentos, ground cherries, ashwagandha and all peppers (like bell peppers, jalapeños, chili peppers, and hot peppers) and red spices (such as paprika, curry powder, chili powder, cayenne powder, red pepper). Foods commonly mistaken as nightshades (but are not) include: zucchini, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, onions and black pepper.
Check out this Nightshade Foods List to see them all.
Reactions associated with nightshade allergies are digestive issues, dry mouth, confusion, vomiting and visual disturbances. People with a nightshade intolerance have reported the following symptoms shortly after eating the aforementioned foods: hives or skin rash, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tightness of the throat and pale skin.
Nightshade vegetables provide excellent nutrition, so there is no need to stop eating them unless you suspect you are sensitive to nightshade foods. If so, eliminate them from your diet to see if symptoms disappear.
ground cherries likely have a low water footprint.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
ground cherries likely have a low carbon footprint.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating product emissions, some factors may be… farm equipment, animal feed production, hothouses (greenhouses), food processing, packaging, transport, refrigeration, freezing, package waste, and more.
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
ground cherries are sustainable.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
A 2010 United Nations report said that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world the worst impacts of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
ground cherries are vegan. ground cherry benefits include not killing, harming or using animals.
Are ground cherries vegan?
Yes, ground cherries are vegan. Ground cherries are a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
ground cherries are a product that may or may not have labor issues.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can face harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
Conclusion
Ground cherry pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Ground cherry cons include:
- a nightshade food
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
This post was all about ground cherry benefits and side effects.
Sources:
(Physalis peruviana) Production Systems For CSA Farms
Medical News Today: Nightshade vegetables
Physalis subulata Rydb. Chihuahuan groundcherry – USDA
