Goji Berries

Goji berries. I have to rant about this fruit because it provides so many health benefits; I have tried it and believe it does its good share of work. When i returned home from winter break the first thing my mom made for me was a goji berry hot tea. I have to admit i was a bit skeptical about this fruit because 1. i've never eaten this fruit before and 2. I never heard of goji berries. That doesn't seem right now does it? Although, i've come to realize this fruit contains high amounts of vitamin A. This fruit has been known to be eaten raw or steamed in water to make tea.

Goji berries is known to be found in China and the Himalayas. When consumed, it has been known to  help with numerous afflictions. For example, they have helped with diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, and age-ralted eye problems. Goji berries is contained with high amounts of antioxidants and vitamin A; they have been known to help with anti-aging problems. This fruit helps you sleep, provide dopamine, increase athletic performance and calmness.

I officially love Goji berries. You can get Goji berry fruits anywhere in a Chinese super market or your local grocery store. 

What i love to do with Goji berries is eat them my oatmeal or brew them in my tea. I admit both taste wonderful. Goji berries have helped with my health and i highly recommend them.

                                           This picture depicts a mound of dried Goji berries. 

Pacific Gyre Garbage Patch

Okay...so i did a project about this problem in my environmental ethics class and i have come to learn this is a HUGE problem in our society. The Pacific Gyre is a bit disturbing. Fishes, turtles, seagulls, dolphins, and many more have been living in this disgusting environment. It's just disturbing to think about animals living in a pool of garbage everyday.

The Pacific Gyre Garbage Patch (which is the size of Texas) is a vortex of our garbage that has been put out in the middle of the ocean because we have no where else to put them. This garbage patch is affecting our marine life, oceans, and health. This mainly affects our health because we eat those fishes that have consumed the garbage that they mistakenly assume as food. In the end we are affected because we consume the fishes with plastic in it. Most of those plastics contain toxins that can kill us. These toxins include key chemicals like bishenol A (BPB) and phthalates, which have been linked to affect our development. According to Times Magazine, "Obesity, diabetes, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — could have chemical connections with plastic." 


Some solutions to this problem are foundations that have promoted people to help clean out our oceans. Also, asking questions & getting involved with this problem can raise concerns and help us find solutions. Learning to recycle and throw garbage in the correct section (ect. compost, recycle) can help the environment a lot.  

This picture indicates how long the  Pacific Gyre has been around due to the turtle's shell. It takes approx. 10-20 years for the turtle to fully develop into it's shell. 

Below you can find a link to the garbage patch.

Pacific Gyre Garbage & Map