So let’s talk about soapberries or soap nuts as you might know them. Are they as good for us as the growers and suppliers would have us believe?
First, let’s get back to basics – what is a soapberry? The trees and shrubs which are the basis of this family of plants are found in tropical and sub-tropical areas of Nepal and India and have been used in South Asia for centuries as a soap and medicine. The ‘berry’ itself grows in clusters and is about the size of a small plum.
Research has taken place into the health benefits of ingesting soapberries (saponins found in soapberries, and other plants, are suggested to be an anti-carcinogen). Some Native Nations in North America, as well as auyvedic practitioners in Asia, use them medicinally.
But today we are looking at their use as a laundry detergent and multi-purpose cleaner. Luckily for us, however, there are health benefits in using them as a cleaner, as we will find out!

Soapberries 5

The soapberries that National Organics Soapberries are using are grown in the hill regions of Nepal. Provided with the right altitude and climate the soapberry trees thrive in places which are quite difficult for people to access. Yes, all the best things are hard to come by! And, given that saponin (natural chemical found within plants that produces a lather), is a natural insect repellent, insects and pests find soapberries hard to access too! Making them well suited for organic production.

The lather producing quality of the soapberries is ideal for using as an alternative to chemical laundry detergents. But why would we want to go through the trouble of collecting these little nut-like berries and taking the time to either create a liquid from the soapberries in our homes or fiddle around with the berries themselves in our washing machines when we can simply pour in some commercially bought chemical detergent?

Healthy Planet

We have all seen those horrifying videos of islands of plastic floating around in the earth’s oceans. And we have seen the pictures of wildlife starving to death because their beaks or muzzles have been caught in plastic ties and rings. We have also seen the pictures of children suffering from the result of over-exposure to pesticides and chemicals. In fact, many readings this will have suffered from dermatological problems due to the kind of chemicals that are contained within almost everything we come into contact with, including our washing detergent.
Since soapberries are 100% plant based, natural and biodegradable, there is no harmful residue getting into the water system and oceans. With their own natural pesticide, there is no need to use pesticides or other chemicals in the growing stage to deter pests. Being certified by Ecocert SAS, National Organics’ soapberries are guaranteed 100% organic. And how could we better Mother Nature anyway?
National Organics’ soapberries are sustainably harvested from renewable sources. All through their process, from picking to packing we follow a strict and traceable organic policy. Therefore, when you are done with the berries, you can safely dispose of them in your organic waste bin or dig them into your garden.

Healthy People

Soapberries are wild crafted, organic, and have no known side-effects. Quite the opposite – soapberries have many health benefits. They are anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, assisting with the control of eczema, psoriasis and dandruff when used as a tropical treatment. Due to the saponin within the berries, they can help control cholesterol, maintain healthy bones and stimulate the immune system. There is even suggestion and research, into their power to limit the growth of cancerous cells (see Rao AV and Sung MK on https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7884557)
While we leave the medical experts to carry on their research, I can safely tell you that soapberries are much less harmful to people and animals than chemical detergents. Just look at the negatives of chemical detergents:-
• Most laundry detergents contain bleaching reagents, such as chlorine. They also contain oxidizing agents that are used to whiten clothes and remove stains. These bleaching agents can irritate skin, lungs, eyes, and further aggravate respiratory problems.
• Commercial washing detergents are packaged with several chemicals to add fragrance.
• Usually, surfactant – extremely notorious toxins – are used as cleaning agents in chemical detergents. These can have severe effects on skin and are linked to irritation.
• In order to increase the shelf-life of detergents, stabilizer are used. Stabilizers, being a chemical product in themselves, are harmful for eyes, lungs, and skin.
• Usually chemicals are used as brighteners in detergents so as to make the clothes look shinier. These chemicals accumulate ultraviolet light to which pose great risk to healthy skin.

Now take a look at the side-effects of soapberry detergent:-

Yes, that’s right, there are no known negative side-effects.
Oh, but do not try to eat them. While they will not make you ill, they taste bitter and soapy!

Happy People

Not only are customers very happy with their soapberries, the communities National Organics source the soapberries from are too.
National Organics source their soapberries ethically, providing fair wages and other benefits (such as education, literacy, and training) to the communities they work with. You can find out more about the growers and communities https://www.grownepal.org.np