Goji berry is known as a fruit for health and well-being. Just two centimeters in size, elongated with coral-red color as well as a fruity-tart flavor, goji berries are a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The fruit is also very popular in this country. No wonder, because goji berries contain valuable vitamins and vital substances.
Use of goji berries
Popular are the fruits of the common goat thorn mainly because in them are rich active substances, which should help to promote health. The berries can be eaten fresh and raw after picking. However, in order to preserve all the valuable active ingredients in the goji berries in the long term, they are placed in the sun for gentle drying after harvesting. The dried berries are then used, for example, in soups, in muesli or in sauces and jams. They can also be made into tea or juices. However, not only the fruits of the common buckthorn are processed in food products, but also the leaves, roots, barks as well as seeds.
Goji berries to strengthen the body’s defenses.
Goji berries convince some scientists and nutrition experts mainly because they have a high level of various valuable ingredients. So is also a unique group of bioactive molecules, Lycium barabrum saccharides, which are researched in goji berries. Furthermore, goji berries are characterized by high levels of vitamin C, vitamin B1 and B2, and vitamin E.
Healthy ingredients in goji berries
The following ingredients could also be detected in goji berries:
- 19 amino acids
- 21 trace elements
- Essential fatty acids
- Iron
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Beta-Sisterol
- Cyperone
- Betaine
- Polysaccharides
Anti-aging effect due to antioxidants.
Due to the many different ingredients, the effect of goji berries is also said to be versatile. So they are valued in addition to the promotion to health especially in cosmetics for anti-aging. Because the Goji berry is said to have cell-protective effects due to its antioxidant properties, so that it can possibly slow down the aging process. However, the valuable goji berry is said to be able to achieve even more positive effects.
Effect of goji berries on health
Goji berry is said to have the following health effects:
- Strengthens the immune system
- Acts against stress and states of exhaustion
- Helps with diabetes (beta-sisterol is to reduce fat content in the blood)
- Acts against high blood pressure
- Helps with heart disease
- Relieves problems with the eyes
- Strengthens kidneys and liver
According to research, goji berries may also have a positive effect on brain activity. Because goji berries seem to serve as a protection against amyloid peptides, which among other things are held responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. It should be noted, however, that none of these health benefits have yet been scientifically proven.
Are goji berries toxic or unhealthy?
Every now and then it can be read that goji berries are poisonous and accordingly better not to be consumed. However, this thesis is outdated and does not coincide with the current research results. However, the consumer center warns that goji berries are often contaminated with harmful substances such as pesticides and can thus be harmful to health. However, the residues in samples have never been seriously harmful to health so far. Nevertheless, the consumer center recommends that quality claims be treated with caution, as they do not always correspond to the truth.
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Health risk for allergy sufferers and heart patients
There are some groups of people for whom the consumption of goji berries may pose a health risk. For one, goji berries may interact with blood-thinning medications because the berries increase the anticoagulant effect. People with high blood pressure who take such drugs should therefore better do without the berries. On the other hand, goji berries harbor a high allergy potential. Thus, cross-allergies also frequently occur in connection with goji berries, for example with nuts, tomatoes or peaches.
Origin of goji berries
The main cultivation area of goji berries is in Ningxia province, in north central China.There, in honor of the goji berries, a festival is even celebrated every year in August at the end of the goji berry harvest. The exact origin of goji berries is historically unknown. However, it is believed that the plants of goji berries came from Central Asia to Southern Europe. What is certain, however, is that goji berries now grow around the globe on plants also known as common buckthorn or Chinese wolfberry.
