Over the past decade western culture is starting to pay attention to the Goji berries long history and medicinal properties. Goji, (Lycium barbarum) also know as Wolfberry has been consumed in Asia for thousands of years. It is so highly regarded that many regions have annual celebrations that last weeks, giving tribute to this unique food. Goji berry grows throughout a vast area of central Asia stretching from Mongolia to the Himalayas and beyond. These cultures claim Goji has unique magical properties and is the secret to a long healthy life.
This is what we know about Goji berries:
Goji berry is extremely high in vitamin C, approximately 500 times more vitamin C than oranges. They also are rich in vitamin A, B1, B2, B6 and E. Goji contains 19 amino acids and 13 percent protein. These little berries have 21 trace minerals and more beta carotene than you can shake a carrot at. If that's not enough, included are selenium and germanium, what you end up with is a super fruit or more commonly called a super-food!
This little berry is being studied all over the world to make sense of the complex science surrounding Goji berries unique nutritional value. It is being studied for possible benefits in cancer treatments and its effect on tumors. Many other studies include but are not limited to Goji berries effects on blood pressure, effectively lowering cholesterol, treatment for enlarged prostate, its anti-fungal and anti-bacteria properties, its overall effect on the nervous system and the list goes on and on.
The Goji berry is consumed in many different forms. One form is juice, usually good quality and delicious but very expensive and realistically most people cannot afford it. Another popular form is dried berries. Dried Goji berries are more affordable and taste good as well. Many claim they taste like raisins while others say they taste more like dried cranberries. In recent years freeze dried Goji berries granulated into powder form has become very popular. Though it is possible to lose a little nutritional value in this process, if done correctly using quality fruit it can be a great alternative to juice because it becomes a lot more affordable. This method makes it possible for many to incorporate Goji into their everyday diet.
A great resource for those interested in learning more in-depth about the Goji berry is a book by Dr. Earl Mindell called, Goji: The Himalayan Health Secret. This wonderful book is packed with good information from the history to past and current studies on Goji berries.
It is also important to understand that like all food the quality varies from one crop to the other. Quality or potency also varies from geographical region to region. This is a fact of nature in all foods and is only one reason why healthy bodies need to have a diverse menu of fruits and vegetables. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to educate yourself on good sources of high quality food with a wide spectrum as to nutrition. By devoting a little time and discovering what quality food is and what sources are available you will create a healthy mind as well as body. With these tools you become better equipped to handle life and all that it has to offer.
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