Goji berry

Firstly Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) is an ancient fruit popular in traditional Chinese medicine. Secondly It’s a red berry that grows on an evergreen shrub native to China, Mongolia, and the Tibetan Himalayas. Thirdly it is full of nutrients.

Benefits of the goji berry with scientific evidence supporting them:

Goji Berry Nutrition Facts

Generally The following nutrition information is provided  for 3 table spoons (17g) of dried goji berries.2

Carbs

A 3-tablespoon serving of dried goji berries has 13 grams of carbohydrates. Similarly this includes just over 2 grams of fiber and almost 8 grams of natural sugars.

Fats

Goji berries contain minimal fat with less than just 0.1 gram per serving.

Goji Berry  Protein

When it comes to fruit, goji berries are higher in protein than most. A 3-tablespoon serving of dried goji berries provides 2.4 grams of protein.

Vitamins and Minerals

Goji berries are a good source of vitamin C. Three tablespoons of dried goji berries provide just over 8 milligrams of vitamin C, which is about 11% of the recommended dietary allowance for adult women and 9% for men.3

Goji berries also provide some iron, B vitamins, copper, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Furthermore their orange-red color is due to carotenoids, including zeaxanthin.4

Goji Berry Health Benefits

Generally Goji berries have long been popular in ancient Chinese medicine. Also their rich vitamin and antioxidant content is responsible for many of the health benefits which are now supported by modern science.

Slows Vision Loss

Supplementing with goji berries for a period of 90 days has been shown to increase the concentration at lutein and zeaxanthin in the retina.

Prevents High Blood Sugar

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LPB) is an active component of goji berry used in traditional Chinese medicine.

It seems that goji berry can assist with diabetes treatment, especially for those who have trouble keeping blood sugars down through dietary changes alone. However to prevent blood sugar from going too low, speak to your doctor about adding goji berry to your diabetes management plan.

Goji Berry  Reduces Cholesterol

In addition to boosting HDL levels, goji berries are high in cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. Moreover With about 4 grams of fiber per ounce (dried), snacking on goji berries can help you get closer to the daily recommendation of 25–35 grams per day.7 Bringing down “bad cholesterol” levels (LDL) and triglycerides with fruits like goji berry is a natural and effective way to keep cholesterol levels and promote heart health.

May Help Lower Cancer Risk

Adequate intake of vitamin C through the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of several types of cancer, including lung, breast, esophageal, and stomach cancer.3 Furthermore Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps scavenge free radicals to prevent cellular damage.

To sum up Goji berries are loaded with vitamin C, offering 150 milligrams per ounce (raw).1 Including goji berries in your arsenal of antioxidant superfoods keeps your cells young and healthy.

Promotes Wound Healing

In addition to cancer-preventing effects, vitamin C is a precursor to collagen, a vital component of connective tissue. Most importantly the body’s ability to heal from injuries relies on the formation of new collagen. For this reason, the intake of vitamin C from foods like goji berries is essential.3 Give your body every advantage for healthy skin by making sure high-vitamin-C foods are part of your meal plan.

Varieties

There are two varieties of goji berry available in the United States and Canada. Crimson Star and Phoenix Tears are accessible to anyone. Sask Wolfberry is a variety offered to co-op growers from a Canadian Company called Wolfberry Agrodevco.10

Goji Berry  Storage and Food Safety

Goji berries are delicate and leak if they become slightly bruised or damaged.10 If you find fresh goji berries, try to use them right away. Don’t wash until you’re ready to eat or dry them. Dry goji berries and goji berry products have a long shelf life and should be used by the date specified on the label.