Nutritional Aspects of Goji
Currently goji is really a buzz
world in Europe. I have a friend working on an online healthy food
retailer. She told me that everyday people all over Europe are buying goji
berries. Of course, I always buy it from my friend, and I like it very much. I
have done some research on goji berries, and would like to write it down in my
blog. Today I am talking about goji’s nutritional aspects and how it improve our
immune system.
Goji berries are also called Lycium
barbarum. They are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth! They
contain:
- 21 trace minerals
- A lot of natural compounds that promote
health and vitality. - 18 amino acids
- 12 times more vitamin C than kiwi fruit
- Much more antioxidants than any known food
- more beta-carotene than carrots
- more iron than spinach
- Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E
Scientific studies have discovered many
medicinal properties of goji berries, including: anti-aging, anti-cancer,
weight loss promotion, enhancing libido and fertility, immune system boosting
and much more. The vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides provide fuel for
the immune system to function efficiently. Medical research have revealed why
goji berries can boost the immune system: it actually increases white ‘killer’
T-cells, thus exhibiting anti-tumor capability. A study in 2001 discovered
that polysaccharides present in goji berries can stop/slow down the growth
of human leukemia cells. Another study in 1994 revealed that polysaccharides in
goji berry along with with the standard cancer drug LAK/IL-2, could be 3 times
more effective at reducing tumors than using the standard cancer drug by itself.
It is widely recommended that we consume the goji berries as natural as
possible, in order to maximise the medicinal benefits of goji berries. There are
a number of processed products on the market that include a small amount of goji
berry extract. These include goji juice, goji tablets, etc. As oxidation
happens during the manufacturing process of goji products, I think these
processed goji berries significantly lose their nutritional
properties.