Have you been wondering about the health benefits of goji
berries and goji juice? Some claim that goji berries are the next
fountain of youth. But what is the goji berry and can it really
prevent chronic illness? And do dried goji berries have side
effects? Here are answers to your questions.
The goji berry is also called the wolfberry. It is a bright
orange-red berry that comes from a shrub that's native to China. In
Asia, goji berries have been eaten for generations in the hopes of
living longer.
Over time, people have used goji berries to treat many common
health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, and age-related eye problems. Goji
berries are eaten raw, cooked, or dried (like raisins) and are used
in herbal teas, juices, wines, and medicines.
Research shows that eating berries -- like blueberries, acai berries, cranberries, strawberries, and
cherries -- offers some definite health benefits. Berries like the
goji berry are filled with powerful antioxidants and other
compounds that may help prevent cancer and other
illnesses, including heart disease. Antioxidants may also boost the
immune system and lower cholesterol.
Eating foods high in antioxidants may slow the aging process as
well. It does this by minimizing damage from free radicals that
injure cells and damage DNA. When a cell's DNA changes, the cell
grows abnormally. Antioxidants can take away the destructive power
of free radicals. By doing so, antioxidants help reduce the risk of
some serious diseases.
Goji berries also have compounds rich in vitamin A that may have
anti-aging benefits. These special compounds help boost immune
function, protect vision, and may help prevent heart disease.
Some research suggests that goji berry extracts may boost brain
health and may protect against age-related diseases such as
Alzheimer's.
Other studies using goji berry juice founds benefits in mental
well-being, and calmness, athletic performance, happiness, quality
of sleep, and feelings of good health. These are preliminary
studies that need to be repeated before definitive conclusions can
be drawn.
While goji berries are a rich source of antioxidants -- and
early research shows a potentially powerful health benefit -- it's
still unclear how they stack up against other berries. Researchers
also don't know whether goji berry supplements have the same health benefits as the
actual berries.
