What are Goji berries,how can they be used and what for and why?!
They are packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients and have been used in the East as a general tonic and anti-aging supplement.
This led to claims of people living for over a hundred years because of the berries. Or warding off various kinds of cancer.
Such claims have been scorned by the conventional medical authorities and so the humble goji berry is now falling out of favour in the west.
What is proven is that they do contain the following:
Vitamins - C, Beta-carotene, B1, B2, B6 and E
Minerals - iron, zinc, copper, calcium, germanium, selenium, phosphorus.
They also are rich in amino acids, isoleucine, tryptophan and a wide range of complex phyto-nutrients and bioflavinoids. The list is so long, if you really want to know exactly, your first answerer has supplied you with a great link.
How can they be used?
Well, traditionally the berries are dried. They are used in some Chinese soups and teas.
In the west, we prefer to use them as toppings for cereal, yogurt and in salads.
They don't taste very exciting. Some people have compared them to a cross between a cranberry and a raisin. I find this too flattering; they are not sweet and can sometimes taste slightly bitter, but are usually just bland.
Soaking them seems to make them just taste soggy! So I prefer to slice up some red and yellow peppers, pour on a little lemon juice and then drop the dry berries on top. They soon soak up the moisture from the peppers and lemon juice without becoming too soft and soggy, and taste nice that way.
What for and why?
Phew! The list of praises is very long! Here's a rough idea - they are anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial.
They calm nervousness, enhance the memory, and promote muscle growth.
They support the liver, lungs and benefit the heart. They lower bad cholesterol and help maintain normal blood pressure.
They enhance immune system function, help eyesight, improve circulation AND boost sperm production!
All this has earned them the title of the world's most powerful anti-aging food. This doesn't necessarily mean they will add years onto your life, but they will help maintain your motor in tip-top condition and stop your cells from wearing out so quickly.
Here's another link related to the anti-aging claim so you can understand it for what it is
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/fe...
Whatever you may think of all the various claims, goji berries are very good for you in a general way, and certainly won't do you any harm! All you need is a handful a few times a week ... so try them, and see if they "pick you up" at all.
Another word before I go - although they are all dry and additive free, some taste better than others. I've been using them regularly in Japan and took a few packets back to England because my sister wanted to try them and couldn't find them. But I did find some in her town, so I bought them to compare. They were more expensive than the Japanese ones, and sister and I both agreed weren't as nice.
Happy munching!
Answers: Goji berries are also called wolfberries or lycium fruits. They are bright red berries, about the size of a cranberry.They grow on woody, deciduous perennial plants and are most common in Tibet, China and Mongolia.
They are packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients and have been used in the East as a general tonic and anti-aging supplement.
This led to claims of people living for over a hundred years because of the berries. Or warding off various kinds of cancer.
Such claims have been scorned by the conventional medical authorities and so the humble goji berry is now falling out of favour in the west.
What is proven is that they do contain the following:
Vitamins - C, Beta-carotene, B1, B2, B6 and E
Minerals - iron, zinc, copper, calcium, germanium, selenium, phosphorus.
They also are rich in amino acids, isoleucine, tryptophan and a wide range of complex phyto-nutrients and bioflavinoids. The list is so long, if you really want to know exactly, your first answerer has supplied you with a great link.
How can they be used?
Well, traditionally the berries are dried. They are used in some Chinese soups and teas.
In the west, we prefer to use them as toppings for cereal, yogurt and in salads.
They don't taste very exciting. Some people have compared them to a cross between a cranberry and a raisin. I find this too flattering; they are not sweet and can sometimes taste slightly bitter, but are usually just bland.
Soaking them seems to make them just taste soggy! So I prefer to slice up some red and yellow peppers, pour on a little lemon juice and then drop the dry berries on top. They soon soak up the moisture from the peppers and lemon juice without becoming too soft and soggy, and taste nice that way.
What for and why?
Phew! The list of praises is very long! Here's a rough idea - they are anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial.
They calm nervousness, enhance the memory, and promote muscle growth.
They support the liver, lungs and benefit the heart. They lower bad cholesterol and help maintain normal blood pressure.
They enhance immune system function, help eyesight, improve circulation AND boost sperm production!
All this has earned them the title of the world's most powerful anti-aging food. This doesn't necessarily mean they will add years onto your life, but they will help maintain your motor in tip-top condition and stop your cells from wearing out so quickly.
Here's another link related to the anti-aging claim so you can understand it for what it is
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/fe...
Whatever you may think of all the various claims, goji berries are very good for you in a general way, and certainly won't do you any harm! All you need is a handful a few times a week ... so try them, and see if they "pick you up" at all.
Another word before I go - although they are all dry and additive free, some taste better than others. I've been using them regularly in Japan and took a few packets back to England because my sister wanted to try them and couldn't find them. But I did find some in her town, so I bought them to compare. They were more expensive than the Japanese ones, and sister and I both agreed weren't as nice.
Happy munching!
Have a look at this site:
http://www.health-report.co.uk/goji_berr...
Good luck
They are supposedly a super food with high levels of antioxidents and vitamins said to even cure some cancers I have some dried ones and use them to sprinkle over yogurt and in muesli. Not so nice tasting by themselves.
it's wolfberry.
said to be good for the eyes.
I have a friend suffering from cancer who swears by the juice made from the berries.
I've also heard they're good for building your immune system and for joint and muscle pain.
Have no source on this, just gossip.