This tiny fruit is one of the richest sources of vitamin C available, with 50–100 times more than oranges or lemons. This bright orange-red berry contains antioxidants such as carotenoids and anthocyanins. Acerola has been shown to support immune function, digestion, skin appearance, and energy levels.

You’ve probably slathered aloe vera onto a sunburn, but did you know it’s also soothing to the gut? Aloe is rich in restorative bioactive compounds like amino acids, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants that support digestion, regularity, and healthy inflammatory levels in the gut and throughout the body.

Also known as the Indian gooseberry, this bitter berry has been a vital part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years used for its rich health benefits. Amla is high in antioxidants and phytochemicals like kaempferol, furosin, gallic acid, corilagin and quercetin that help fight free radicals and support immune function, digestion, and healthy aging.

Astragalus, a traditional medicinal herb that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, is a powerful and versatile plant used to promote health and longevity. In traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus is believed to strengthen the body's Qi, or life force, and promote healing. The herb contains the phytocompounds saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides that offer antioxidant and immune-supportive properties that give Astragalus its notable health benefits.

The banana is a dietary staple for many across the globe and everyone's favorite addition to smoothies, oatmeal, sandwiches, baked goods, lunchboxes, or as a quick, portable snack. Bananas were first cultivated in Southeast Asia where they were grown as an ornamental plant and for their medicinal properties. Bananas are considered to be the world's first fruit and their cultivation is thought to predate the cultivation of rice!

Originally, only green and red bananas were grown and had to be cooked to eat. The sweet yellow banana that we know today is a mutated version of the original varieties, and wasn’t discovered until the 1800s in Jamaica. Once realized that this banana could be eaten without cooking, this variety was cultivated and quickly became popular. Today, over 1,000 varieties of banana are available worldwide and an estimated 100+ million bananas are consumed annually.

While famous for high potassium levels, bananas are also good sources of fiber, resistant starch, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B6, manganese, and the essential amino acid tryptophan. Bananas support regular bowel function and the soluble fiber binds to and removes toxins in the gut. Resistant starch acts as a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria to support overall gut health. Bananas also offer a potent source of readily available energy to help fuel the body through workouts and daily life.

This popular dark purple berry is an aggregate fruit composed of small drupelets that each contains a seed. This distinctive structure gives the berry its unique texture and appearance. Blackberries have a long history of use, dating back to ancient Greece and Roman times when they were used for their medicinal properties.

This nutrient-rich berry is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and contain beneficial phytonutrients like anthocyanins, flavanols, ellagitannins, and phenolic acids, which contribute to their high antioxidant capacity. They are also an excellent source of fiber, which supports gut health and digestion.

Arguably the most widely consumed berry throughout the world, the blueberry is originally a native plant of North America. In fact, Native Americans used blueberries as food and medicine long before European settlers arrived. Now, the blueberry is grown on nearly every continent as either wild or farmed berries.

This superfood is one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. While both farmed and wild blueberries offer significant health benefits, there are notable distinctions to consider. Wild blueberries naturally thrive in their native settings, such as forests or barrens, unlike their farmed counterparts that are purposely cultivated for commercial yield. Also, wild blueberries are smaller in size. Their higher skin-to-pulp ratio gives them a more complex, deeper flavor, and a richer concentration of anthocyanin antioxidants. Otherwise, both types of blueberries stack up closely in nutrient composition.

At Farmana, we favor organic wild blueberries for their superior phytonutrient content, rich flavor, and the simple fact that they flourish unaided in their natural habitats, untouched by human intervention up until harvest.