Goji berries, also known as Chinese wolfberries have been consumed for medicinal purposes since thousands of years and traditional Chinese medicine recognizes them among the world’s most powerful foods that support longevity and overall wellbeing.
Chinese wolfberries are normally dried fruits, and in that sense, they look similar to raisins. They are small, although slightly oversized compared to raisins, brighter pink in color, have a fleshy interior and a sweet and sour taste but are not as sweet as raisins.
Extremely popular in China, the berries are cultivated on a large scale in several regions including Hebei, Shanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. Goji berries are highly regarded for the medicinal benefits they provide and are gaining momentum all across the world with a lot of the production being exported from China to countries worldwide.
Goji berries provide special benefits
In Chinese medicine, goji berries have been used as a treatment for various ailments and scientists today are conducting further research to investigate the potential benefits of the fruit.
It is believed that Chinese wolfberries can protect against cancer and prolong life. Although there isn’t enough research yet to back up the claims, there is evidence that the nutrients in the fruit, particularly the antioxidants play a very important role in maintaining overall health.
In addition to antioxidants, goji berries also contain a number of vitamins and minerals that provide special benefits, support good health and promote wellbeing.
Nutritional information for ¼ cup of goji berries, dried
General information
Calories: 70
Sugars: 12 grams
Protein: 9 grams
Fiber: 6 grams
Fat: 0 grams
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamin A: 150% of the daily value
Copper: 84% of the daily value
Selenium: 75% of the daily value
Vitamin B2: 63% of the daily value
Iron: 42% of the daily value
Vitamin C: 27% of the daily value
Potassium: 21% of the daily value
Zinc: 15% of the daily value
Thiamine: 9% of the daily value
A serving size of dried goji berries of a ¼ cup, which is approximately 85 grams provides little to no fat, and the berries are also cholesterol-free and free of saturated fats. This means that they are heart healthy and can be consumed by most people with a few exceptions.
Nutritionists do not usually recommend people who take blood thinners or diabetics to consume goji berries because the fruit can provoke negative reactions due to various compounds possibly interfering with the effects of the medication. Generally, however, goji berries are blood sugar-friendly, but people with diabetes or people experiencing blood clots should nevertheless consult a doctor before consuming the fruit.
The antioxidants in goji berries are responsible for a large percentage of the special health benefits these fruits provide.
Antioxidant support: Goji berries contain more antioxidants than bananas and apples, thus having a more powerful influence in raising the levels of antioxidant support in the body.
Longevity: Chinese people have long associated goji berries with longevity, and now researchers are expanding on the benefit of the fruit. It appears that the antioxidants fight against free radicals that damage collagen in the skin.
Cancer: Goji fruits and goji extract have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, more so when eaten alongside other berries including blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. The bigger the antioxidant support, the lower the risk of tumors progressing in the body.
Blood sugar: The antioxidants in goji berries were shown to have potential positive effects for humans in terms of improving blood sugar control. Studies were conducted on rats with type 2 diabetes that were given goji berry extract for four weeks.
Boost the immune system: Packed with antioxidants, but also relevant vitamins and minerals, goji berries improve the function of the immune system and increase the level of white blood cells in the body, protecting against harmful bacteria and viruses.