(OrganicJar) Goji berries are a superfood among superfoods being one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet! They are a small red berry produced by the Lycium Barbarum plant, which is native to certain remote regions of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. They have a mild tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour with a similar shape and chewy texture as raisins.
Why You Should Eat Goji Berries Daily
The list of nutrients in goji berries, in high concentration, is impressive: plant-derived polyphenolic antioxidants; carotenoids such as beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene; 500 times more vitamin C per ounce than an orange. vitamins B1, B2, and niacin; more than 30 essential and trace minerals, including zinc, iron, copper, calcium, selenium, and phosphorus; polysaccharides; and 18 amino acids such as isoleucine, tryptophan, leucine, and arginine. That list may help explain why goji berries have the highest ORAC score among 46 foods. Goji is truly the best food to up your body’s antioxidant activity!
Goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists in China, Tibet and India to:
• protect the liver
• help eyesight
• improve sexual function and fertility
• strengthen the legs
• boost immune function
• improve circulation
• promote longevity
So Many Names
The scientific name for goji berry is Lycium barbarum, and the popularly used name “goji” apparently came from the common Chinese name for the berry. An additional common name often used in the west is “wolfberry”, and the berry has yet several other names, which are not frequently used. The exact origin of the goji plant is unknown, and although goji berries are reportedly grown in several different areas of the world, any goji berries you purchase will most likely come from China.
Small Bag, Big Price
After reading earlier this year about goji’s amazing nutritional powerhouse, I decided this superfruit was something that I wanted in my diet every day. At the supermarket right across the street, to my surprise, I found goji berries! However, buying them became slightly expensive at $18 /lb. So I turned to the internet and found several online sites where, if purchased in bulk, they cost about $4/lb. So don’t get sticker shock at the grocery store, just purchase them online. Keep in mind that goji berries being one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth makes them priceless.
Sources: wikipedia.org naturalnews.com
Just The Facts:
- Contains 19 amino acids the building blocks of protein including all eight that are essential for life.
- Contains 21 trace minerals, including germanium, an anti-cancer trace mineral rarely found in foods.
- Contains more protein than whole wheat (13 percent).
- Contains a complete spectrum of antioxidant carotenoids, including beta-carotene (a better source than even carrots!) and zeaxanthin (protects the eyes). Goji berries are the richest source of carotenoids of all known foods.
- Contains Vitamin C at higher levels than even those found in oranges.
- Contains B-complex vitamins, necessary for converting food into energy.
- Contains Vitamin E (very rarely found in fruits, only in grains and seeds).
- Contains Beta-Sitosterol, an anti-inflammatory agent. Beta-Sitosterol also lowers cholesterol and has been used to treat sexual impotence and prostate enlargement.
- Contains essential fatty acids, which are required for the body’s production of hormones and for the smooth functioning of the brain and nervous system.
- Contains Cyperone, a sesquiterpene that benefits the heart and blood pressure, alleviates menstrual discomfort, and has been used in the treatment of cervical cancer.
- Contains Solavetivone, a powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound.
- Contains Physalin, a natural compound that is active against all major types of leukemia. It has been shown to increase splenic natural killer cell activity in normal and tumor-bearing mice, with broad-spectrum anti-cancer effect. It has also been used as a treatment for hepatitis B.
- Contains Betaine, which is used by the liver to produce choline, a compound that calms nervousness, enhances memory, promotes muscle growth, and protects against fatty liver disease. Betaine also provides methyl groups in the body’s energy reactions and can help reduce levels of homocysteine, a prime risk factor in heart disease. It also protects DNA.
Many of the legendary health-giving properties of lycium barbarum (goji’s Latin name) are today being confirmed in modern scientific studies, and this has led to the possibility of even more far-reaching benefits.
Click on these medical publications to see for yourself!
Articles from The National Library of Medicine:
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Ryan | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
What a great snack. The first time I ate them…I was surprised. They taste amazing! I just wish I could afford to eat them. Maybe Nestle or Kraft Foods can start selling them, so I can then begin buying a 12oz lot of them for 50 cents, lol.
Acai Berries | Feb 6, 2009 | Reply
thanks for that post, I felt it was a great informative post.
Jason Cairns | Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
Acai – your welcome! I love goji berries, eat 2 large handfuls a day. Probably my favorite food to eat.
acai diet | Mar 25, 2009 | Reply
Excellent topic! I found your post really informative. We have a network of sites that are very similar just wondering if you would like to exchange links?
Goji Berry | Jul 19, 2009 | Reply
Wow i just started hearing a lot about these goji berries, im really wanting to order some and try them out. Thanks for the info about them.
Nathan | Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
Can anyone recommend the best place (online) to buy organic Lycium barbarum?
Thanks!