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Health Benefits Of Goji Juice

Global statistics indicate that although there is an obesity epidemic, 55.1 million people are suffering from nutritional deficiencies. There is a worldwide interest in food, diets, fitness and health. Worldwide interest in improving health has fueled interest in effective ways to eat more healthy. Wholesome food such as natural foods are gaining interests and now foods linked to potential medicinal benefits have been discovered and re-discovered. Goji juice and it's health benefits is one of these foods.

What Are Goji Berries?

Wolfberry plants are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Wolfberry is known as goji berry, Lycium, bastard jasmine, gou qu zi, matrimony vine, boxthorn, and tea tree. In health food stores, Wolfberry is also referred to as Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji despite geographic origin.

Lycium barbarum, an evergreen shrub, typically grows in intemperate and subtropical regions, first appeared in Chinese literate in the first century AD. Although the plant has grown wild in the UK for hundreds of years, China is the primary worldwide supplier of wolfberry products. Goji berries are the fruit of Lycium. Lycium is related to chili pepper, tobacco, tomato, eggplant, and the potato.

Each berry, which produces 10-60 mini yellow seeds, ripens between July to October in the northern hemisphere. When ripe, the red, oblong berries are tender and require careful picking or vine shaking to collect into trays.

 

Wolfberries Nutritional Value

Wolfberries are chalk full of numerous macronutrients and phytochemicals, including carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fiber. Dried wolfberries consist of approximately 68% carbohydrate, 12% protein, and 10% fiber and fat. Additional properties include eleven essential and 22 trace dietary minerals, 18 amino acids, 6 essential vitamins, 8 polysaccharides and 6 monosaccharides.

Unsaturated Fat, Antioxidants, Selenium, Vitamin C... and more - all in on Goji Berry

Essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid and other unsaturated fatty acids are part of the goji charm. Antioxidant phenolic pigments and carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene provide assorted nutritional benefits.

Dried berries include calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, selenium, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin C. Wolfberry is among the richest sources of zeaxanthin found among edible plants. Over 3/4 of cartenoids in wolfberry exist as zeaxanthin. Polysaccharides comprise thirty-one percent of the wolfberry pulp weight. The plant has one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C among natural plants.

Cooking With Goji

The nutritional value and antioxidant properties of goji berries has resulted in numerous consumer products. As a food, dried wolfberries are traditionally cooked before consumption. Dried wolfberries are often added to rice, jelly, tonic soups, and in combination with chicken, pork, vegetables, and other herbs such as wild yam and licorice root. The berries or leaves are also boiled as an herbal tea, and to make wine.

Health Benefits Of Goji Berries And Goji Juice

Dried berries and root bark are used to make medicine because of potential health benefits. Goji berries of Lycium barbarum are used in traditional medicine. Applications include inflammation, skin irritation, aches, nose bleeds, sedatives and pains. Lycium is also commonly used with other botanicals in Chinese medicine to help improve anemia, vision, and coughing. Traditionally, Lycium has been used to promote longevity. People use Lycium for diabetes, high blood pressure, poor circulation, fever, malaria, and cancer. People use goji for erectile dysfunction (ED), dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and to reduce fever, sweating, irritability, thirst, nosebleeds, and wheezing. People use Lycium as an eye tonic for blurry vision, macular degeneration, and similar disorders. People also use Lycium to build muscles and bone, and as a tonic for the blood, liver, and kidneys. Polysaccharides isolated from the plant have been linked to improved immune response, improved effects of radiation therapy, and to inhibited growth of cancer cells in animal studies.

Health reviews have linked Lycium with positive benefits affecting diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, malaria, cancer, Blood circulation problems, sexual problems (such as impotence), dizziness, ringing in the ears (or tinnitus), and other conditions.

 

Possible Side Effects

Lycium has chemicals that may play a role in lowering blood pressure and blood sugar. Lycium may cause negative effects for those with low blood pressure (hypotension), and for those with high blood pressure (hypertension). Lycium may decrease blood pressure. It can make pressure drop too much for those already suffering from hypotension. For those taking hypertension medication, the interaction may further decrease blood pressure below safe zone.

Using it along with other herbs and supplements that lower blood pressure might lower blood pressure too much. Some of these products include danshen, ginger, Panax ginseng, turmeric, valerian, and others. People have found that Lycium root bark may lower blood sugar. It might cause blood sugar to drop too much if you are taking medications for diabetes. Using it along with other herbs and supplements, such as bitter melon, ginger, kudzu and willow bark, might also lower blood sugar too much.

Lycium may reduce how quickly the liver breaks down medications. It may also increase the effects or side effects of some medications. Medications the liver changes includes amitriptyline (Elavil), diazepam (Valium), zileuton (Zyflo), celecoxib (Celebrex), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), warfarin (Coumadin), and others. Medications for diabetes may also have an interaction with Lycium.

Safety concerns for goji include nausea and vomiting when taken by mouth. For those who are pregnant or breast-feeding, the chemical betaine may cause miscarriage. Consequently, using goji is not advised under these conditions. There are no known goji interactions with foods.

Where To Buy Goji Juice And Other Wolfberry Products

Commercially, consumers can buy wolfberry on the market as a manufacturing additive, juice concentrate, puree, juice or pulp powder, whole or ground seeds, seed oils, and essential oils. Berries may be consumed raw or used in cooking. Goji berries, goji juice and other products can be found in grocery stores, health food stores, and online.

Dosage

The appropriate dose of Lycium or goji products such as goji juice or goji berries depends on various factors such as the user's health, age, and other conditions. Follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your healthcare professional before using goji to discuss possible medication or herb interaction.

Conclusion

When it comes to health benefits of goji, it's natural properties prove that this super plant has many benefitial influences on our bodies and our health.

04.01.2011. 03:06

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