The Importance of the Goji Berry

Goji Berries are used from the ancient times in Chinese Medicare. Goji berry basically refers to bright orange–red fruit of the thorny & woody plant (shrub).

Goji berry is a Chinese name for Lycium babarum. It is basically known as wolfberry in English language. It is assumed that they originated in the regions of southwest Asia & southeast Europe, but now it grown in all states were China is the largest producer. Goji berries are recently being introduced in the western regions and are coming out to be very beneficial.

Goji berries are considered as a highly nutrient-rich fruit since ancient time and are being used since thousands of years. Due to the presence of phytochemicals like sterols, zeaxanthin, polysaccharides & antioxidants like Vitamin C, beta carotene, lycopene and lutein, in addition to large amounts of minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, calcium & potassium, which gives Goji berry its legendary benefivial properties. The nutrients present in Goji berry basically helps in boosting immunity, longevity, liver protection, eyesight improvement, etc. These berries are now becoming one of the popular health food in the eastern & westerns regions of the world. This is due to there upcoming reputation as an anti-aging medicine. Goji Berries contain large amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A & antioxidants of all foods.

It basically appears like a scarlet berry resembling to a raisin (when dried). It tastes like a mild sweet flavor not unlike a cranberry & a raisin. It is kind of chewy in nature. Since the berries are very delicate, they are plucked from the trees onto the mats rather than get picked from the ground, to avoid spoilage. They are then kept for drying slowly in shade.

Goji berry can be eaten as a food either brewed in a tea or raw. It is less sweet as compared to raisins & is drier. Commercially, it is basically available in the form of dried powder or juice; it is also available in form of dry fruits. It is also used as an ingredient of soup in China. In China its leaves and young shoots are eaten as leafy vegetables. In fact, Goji berry is also used to produce a Chinese wine. A Goji berry juice is one of the best, easiest and healthiest ways to enjoy Goji berry. The juice of Goji berry is very useful and essential. A therapeutic dose of about 1 to 4 times a day is recommended by the physician so that human body could extract every benefit and nutrient out of it. As the berries are being recently launched in states like USA and Europe, they are still on a way of discovering beneficial properties of these amazing fruits.

Many scientific experiments & studies have been conducted to know about the health benefits & uses of Goji berry, and numerous studies are being conducted in the present time. We are expected to know more about these amazing little berries originating from the mountains of Tibet.