Also known as groundcherries, golden berries, the Inca berry or Cape gooseberry, the flowering plant we have come to know as physalis is not only distinguishable by its tangy-tasting fruit but also its appearance, which has been likened to that of a paper lantern. Despite being a relative of the nightshade family, the fruit of this genus is not poisonous. With its origins rooted in Peru, approximately 90 species of physalis have been discovered, of which a sizeable chunk is native to not just the Americas, but also to Mexico.
Though this exotic-looking fruit is commonly enjoyed as a sweet treat in its raw form or as an addition to drinks and desserts, it may surprise you to discover its role as an anti-aging ingredient. Despite its striking appearance, physalis is anything but a pretty face. In fact, it has a fairly admirable nutrient profile that boasts not just a beneficial amount of dietary fiber, but also various antioxidants and vitamins. Antioxidants are known for their role in combating the effects of free radical damage and encouraging the skin’s healing response. Polyphenols and carotenoids are two such antioxidants that are plentiful in physalis, both of which work together to protect the skin and promote dermal health. As it turns out, it’s not just the fruit that provides such beneficial nutrients – its skin actually provides almost triple the quantity of antioxidants that its pulp does, so it’s always a good thing to remember to eat physalis with its skin on. Elaborating on this, it’s also worth taking account of physalis’ vitamin C content. A potent antioxidant itself, vitamin C is not just a natural skin brightener, but it’s also known for its vital contribution to the production of collagen and therefore dermal youth as a whole. Containing around 21% of women’s RDI and 17% of men’s RDI, physalis is something of an unexpected fruity superhero when it comes to getting a portion of your daily quota of such a vital vitamin via diet alone. At around 74kcal per portion (around 140g or 1 cup), this tasty fruit makes for an optimally low calorie snack choice, too.
To help put the effects of physalis’ nutrients into a more scientific context when it comes to your skin, the phenolic compounds found in its fruit have been subjected to various test-tube studies, one of which reported its capabilities on being able to bring a halt to the growth of certain cancer cells. Another investigation conducted on the extracts from both dehydrated and fresh physalis has detailed how such extracts have been able to not only intercept the growth of the compounds responsible for damage stemming from oxidation, but also how they helped to prolong the lifespan of cells. In skincare terms, such a piece of evidence is potentially great news for your skin, since oxidative stress is one of the top contributors to premature dermal aging and the subsequent damage that originates from this process.
When incorporated into skincare products, physalis, or golden berries as they are commonly referred to when employed as an ingredient, can be used to not only safeguard the skin from free radical-related oxidative stress as we mentioned above, but also to reduce inflammation, which makes it an ideal treatment for acne and even blackheads. As well as being anti-inflammatory, golden berries are also reported to be highly moisturizing to the skin due to their high water content. This, alongside the antioxidants that they contain, helps to promote dermal hydration which can aid in softening the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dry skin, and even dark spots.