10 Health Benefits of Goji Berries

When it comes to berries, we usually opt for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and we don’t even try to include goji berries in our eating plans. Goji berries might not be as delicious as strawberries, but they are nutritional powerhouses. They are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, as well as powerful antioxidants. Many people believe that goji berries are good for dieters, however I’m going to show you that eating goji berries can help improve your overall health. Below is the list of several health benefits of goji berries.

Goji berries, also called wolfberries, are the fruits of the Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense plants. Native to southeastern Europe and Asia, these fruits are characterized by their bright orange-red color and raisin-like shape. They have been cultivated in Asia for over 2000 years, and have been nicknamed "red diamonds" due to their unusually high nutritional value. Traditional Chinese medicine was perhaps the first healing system to understand and utilize the berries for medicinal purposes, though their reputation continues to grow in the West, where many researchers regard them as "superfruits."

Health benefits

Antioxidant-rich  According to the author of Goji Berries: Antioxidant Supreme, goji berries are an excellent source of antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E. In fact, the goji berry contains approximately 500 times more vitamin C per weight than an orange and considerably more beta-carotene than carrots. These findings are reinforced by the goji berries' high Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score of 3,290, which shows that they contain much larger concentrations of antioxidants than most other fruits. Since antioxidants help neutralize the cell-damaging effects of free radicals, eating more antioxidant-rich foods like goji berries can help guard us from degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and most types of cancer.

1. Goji berries are high in iron:
Iron is crucial in maintaining a lot of body functions. Unfortunately, iron deficiency is common among women so it’s important to include iron-rich foods in your eating plan. Many people add leafy greens, especially spinach, to their daily diet, but goji berries contain almost twice as much iron as a cup of spinach. Goji berries are also plentiful in magnesium, calcium, and other essential minerals many people are deficient in. When buying goji berries, look for organic ones to enjoy their health benefits and nutritional value.

2. Goji berries help combat premature aging:
Goji berries are one of the best anti-aging foods you can eat these days. While they won’t help you live forever, they will definitely help you live a longer and healthier life. Due to their high antioxidant content, goji berries help prevent DNA damage and reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease,arthritis and obesity. Give goji berries a try and you won’t regret it.

3. Goji berries help boost protein intake:
Goji berries are an excellent source of protein, so if you are trying to boost your protein intake, consider adding these berries to your diet. Goji berries are a complete protein, which means that they help control your appetite and make you feel full longer. This is a good news for people who want to drop weight. Sure, goji berries are not a protein shake, but consuming them regularly will help boost your protein intake, improve your immune system and cleanse your body.

4. Goji berries are good for your liver and kidneys:
Many people have been obsessed with the idea of detoxing their bodies. Personally I’m not interested in detoxing, though I love green smoothies and juices. But if you want to detox your body, be sure to add goji berries to your diet. Since your liver and kidneys will be working hard to help your body get rid of all the harmful toxins, you will need to consume food that will help those organs work properly. Goji berries are a win-win solution here.

5. Goji berries are high in vitamin A:
Carrots are not the only excellent source of vitamin A. Goji berries are high in beta-carotene too. When we are trying to increase our intake of vitamin A, we usually opt for carrots, bell peppers or sweet potatoes. Add goji berries to this list, and you won’t have to worry about vitamin A deficiency. Just make sure you consume goji berries in moderation since they have some side effects too.

6. Goji berries are high in fiber:
Goji berries are good for people who have some digestive issues or who can’t control their hunger. In fact, if you are always hungry, you might have a low intake of fiber. There are many fiber-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet in order to boost your fiber intake. Goji berry is one of them. You can add it to your favorite smoothie, Greek yogurt or your morning oatmeal. You can also use goji berries in you favorite trail mix to add a new twist to it.

7. Goji berries can help you lose weight:
Finally, if you are trying to drop a few pounds or you just want to stay fit during the holiday season, goji berries can come in handy. As I mentioned above, these little red berries are high in fiber, meaning that you can control your hunger better and lose weight faster. Again, moderation is the key here. Remember, a little bit can go a long way!

There are many ways to add goji berries to your diet. You can add them to your morning smoothie, oatmeal, or yogurt. You can also drink goji berry tea every now and then. Do a small research online and you will find plenty of easy and tasty recipes. Have you ever tried goji berries?

8.Prevent vision loss:
According to a study published in the 2005 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, goji berries contain properties that prevent the risk of vision loss. Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University fed 14 healthy volunteers a serving of 15 grams of goji berries daily for 28 days while comparing their blood levels to 13 control volunteers. After 28 days, the volunteers who consumed the fruits experienced significantly raised zeaxanthin levels in the blood (zeaxanthin is an antioxidant present in goji berries that helps preserve eyesight). Therefore, if you're suffering from poor or deteriorating eyesight, consider adding more goji berries to your diet.

9.Improve male fertility:
Goji berries have long been considered a male aphrodisiac in China, and more studies are starting to confirm these allegations. According to a Chinese study published in the July 2006 issue of Life Sciences, for example, rats that were fed goji berries maintained testicular function when subjected to heat. The researchers also found that certain constituents in goji berries regulated the release of sexual hormones, boosted hormone levels and improved the quality and quantity of sperm in male rats.

10.High in nutrients:
Though goji berries are best-known for their antioxidant activity, they also contain an impressive number of vitamins and minerals. According to Paul Gross in his report, The Top 20 Superfruits, a quarter cup of goji berries contains 11 essential vitamins and 22 trace minerals, including 24 percent of our RDI of potassium, 18 percent of our RDI of zinc and a whopping 100 percent of our RDI of iron, copper and riboflavin. They also contain 8 polysaccharides, a primary source of dietary fiber.

Organic goji berries are easily found in health food stores and online, and are usually consumed in dried form. They are also available in capsule form for those who dislike their bitter taste.