After touting the joys of my blender (and the smoothies [0] it makes) last week, I've been on a smoothie kick. In fact, the other day I decided to pick up what my husband refers to as "lunch in a cup" at my local Smoothie King [1].

Now, it's been awhile since I'd patronized a smoothie shop. And I was surprised to see that there are far more choices these days than the typical berries and bananas. This menu featured blender drinks made with goji, acai and mangosteen on its menu — and I must confess, I have no idea what any of these fruits taste like, let alone the specifics of their nutritional attributes.

This called for some research. If, like me, you're flummoxed by some of the new so-called superfoods at your local natural foods store or on your smoothie shop's menu, here's a guide to what they taste like, and how they'll benefit your body. Who knows, maybe I'll broaden my horizons beyond my orange-banana-strawberry concoction.


Acai [2]
What it is: The berry of a palm tree, harvested in Brazilian rainforests
How it Tastes: Like berries and chocolate
Why It's Good for You: With 10 times more anioxidants than red grapes or red wine, the Acai berry also contains monounsaturated fat, essential amino acids and monounsaturated oleic acid. This means it's good for cardiovascular health, muscle regeneration and reduced inflammation, among other benefits.


Goji [3]
What it is: The berry of an evergreen plant, found in temperate regions of China and the Himalayas
How it Tastes: Sweet and sour
Why It's Good for You: Goji berries are high in antioxidants, including one called zeaxanthin, which can help prevent age-related vision loss. Legend has it that one man lived to be 252 years old, thanks to a diet that included a daily dose of goji berries.


Mangosteen [4]
What it is: The fruit of a tropical tree grown in Southeast Asia
How it Tastes: Reminiscent of strawberry or peach, with a slight sourness — incidentally, despite the name, it tastes nothing at all like mango.
Why It's Good for You: Contains xanthones, a type of phytonutrient that can improve intestinal health, the immune system, joint function and can neutralize free radicals.

Pomegranate [5]
What it is: The fruit of a shrub native to Southwest Asia, now cultivated in temperate climates like California.
How it Tastes: Tart and tannic, similar to cranberries
Why It's Good for You: Pomegranates are high in Vitamin C and potassium and have a higher polyphenol content than red wine or blueberry juice. Studies have shown that pomegranate juice can help improve cardiovascular health, erectile dysfunction and its antioxidants are said to help prevent cancer and heart disease.

Mangosteen photo courtesy XanGo [6].