Goji berry is a member of the wolfberry family and is known by the scientific name of Lycium barbarum. It's credited with increasing the life span and having several health improving properties. It is one of the richest natural nutrients available on earth. It is said that the Chinese have been using Goji berry, as a food and a medicine, for more than five thousand years.
Nutritional value of Goji Berries
Goji berry is a rich source of nutrients and amino acids. It contains 18 amino acids, 21 trace minerals and several vitamins and minerals. It has six times more amino acids than bee pollen, 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than oranges, more iron than spinach, and more Beta carotene than carrots. Goji berry contains minerals like Calcium and Magnesium, and Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E, normally found in grains and seeds and rarely in fruits. In addition, these berries contain many complex compounds and phytonutrients. High levels of protein content (13% of these berries are protein - higher than whole wheat), and antioxidants are other nutrient highlights. In addition, Goji berries contain Beta-sitosterol, Betaine, and essential fatty acids. With all this nutrition packed into it, it is small wonder that these berries have a great medicinal and health value.
Benefits of Goji Berries
Goji berries have been used in traditional systems of medicine to treat various conditions like anemia, cough and inflammation. It has also been used for improving the immune system, protection of the liver, and improving eyesight. Apart from the curative properties, Goji berry is believed to have a positive effect on the health and wellness of those consuming it, and benefits the user with longevity, increased vitality and sexual prowess.
Elderly patients, who were given Goji berries thrice a week, reported several benefits, including improved sleep, better appetite and recovery of sexual function in some cases.
Antioxidants combat free radicals, which are responsible for damaging cells and DNA, increasing the risk of cancer and aiding the ageing process. The high level of antioxidants in Goji berries ensures that the ageing process is slowed down. It is believed that Goji berries have contributed to the freedom from diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease in the people of Asia who have been consuming this fruit.
About the plant
Goji berry grows in protected valleys with vines reaching up to heights of 4 m. The plant grows in sandy or clay soil conditions under semi shade or no shade. The fruits are never plucked by hand since they are very sensitive and can be spoilt if they are touched by hand at this stage. Instead the fruits are shaken on to a mat and then dried in the shade.
Dosage and consumption details
Goji berries taste somewhat like raisins. They can be taken alone or mixed with other ingredients. Daily dosage could be about 10-30 grams.
The best way to take dried Goji berries is to wash them in water and soak them for a short while, before consuming. You can at reasonable prices at most Chinese stores.
In general people are very busy these days. When you are constantly on the run, it can be very hard to include important nutrients such as antioxidants into your diet on a daily basis. However, an interesting fruit called Goji berries has recently started to become very popular because it is extremely high in antioxidants but also very tasty too!
Goji berries can also be used in many ways. In fact if you do a quick google search for "Goji berry recipes" you will find some great recipes showing goji berries being used in all sorts of dishes. They are great for sweet things like goji berry muffins or including them in a fruit crumble. Also they make a great snack just on their own.
With so many different ways to consume these wonder filled berries its no wonder why Goji Berries have taken the world by storm.
Although Goji berries can actually be grown in many different climates and countries (including the UK), they are mainly found and harvested in their origin which is areas of Eastern Asia such as Tibet and China.
You must be careful about where you get your Goji berries from. Some of the cheaper goji berries are grown in lowland areas of China where the air is polluted and they use lots of pesticides. It is better to make sure you get your goji berries from Tibet or make sure they are organic.
Personally I get all my goji berries online (I'm not going to plug the website I get mine from here, but if you just do a search in Google for "buy goji berries online" then you should be able to find a few good sites to choose from). Just make sure you buy Tibetan or Organic (ideally both!)
Most Goji berries you will find will be very dry. However, if you look hard enough, then you can actually find some that are much stickier and more moist. These soft goji berries are actually packed in China in foil fresh packs before they are shipped to Europe or USA.
Another form of Goji Berries is Goji Juice and Goji drinks. These are particularly popular in USA and Canada (mainly due to a company called Freelife). This could well be worth trying if you feel you might prefer the juice to the actual berries themselves.
Other "superfoods" that are often mentioned in the same breath as Goji berries are that such as acai, spirulina and mangosteen. But companies promoting these sort of products often do so in a very aggressive and misleading way, so act with caution and don't pay attention to too many medical claims.
Both Kirk G Bachelder & Rebecca Cooper are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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