Goji berries, also called the "long-life fruit" or "longevity fruit" by Tibetans, have been appreciated since ancient times for their beneficial nutritional qualities. We are talking about a real natural superfood, with a multivitamin pool handed down from oriental medicines and appreciated today as an anti-aging nutraceutical. So let's see the main benefits recognized by science and the potential contraindications of these fruits.
Nutritional properties of goji berries
The market for food supplements is bombarded with multivitamins which, however, are in many cases synthetic products that provide "laboratory born" micronutrients. According to some of the latest researches in the nutritional field, natural vitamins are preferable to synthetic ones, since they are "recognized" and used better by our body. Goji berries are a true natural concentrate of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and ensure optimal absorption. These berries are rich in:
- Vitamins A and C
- All the B vitamins
- Mineral salts
- 18 different amino acids
- Sterols and vegetable fatty acids
- Flavonoids
- Carotenoids
Goji berries can quickly restore the stocks of vitamins and minerals and bring highly bioavailable nutrients to the body, especially useful in times of stress or unbalanced nutrition.
Goji: characteristics of the fruit of longevity
Goji is, in fact, among the most antioxidant-rich fruits ever, with a very high Orac value which makes it one of the most popular superfoods in anti-aging medicine.
Goji berries are fruits produced by two varieties of shrubs belonging to the Solanaceae family (which includes plants such as eggplant, tobacco, chili pepper, petunia, potato, tomato, and many others) or Lycium Barbarum and Lycium Chinense, both from Tibet and temperate regions of China.
These orange-red berries are very popular all over Asia: thet have been cultivated for thousands of years and are considered an essential element in traditional Chinese medicine. Also known by the name of Berries of Lycia (from Lycium Barbarum) the populations that have always consumed them attribute to them the ability to guarantee a long life.
Who are goji berries recommended for?
The subjects traditionally advised to consume it were those who suffered from diabetes, fever, high blood pressure, and vision problems due to old age. The use of goji berries was very important in Asian populations also for the treatment of the liver, infertility, abdominal pain, dry cough, fatigue, and headache. In short, goji berries are one of the many "panacea" typical of oriental medicines, but with potential health benefits that have also attracted the attention of the western world.
4 main benefits of goji berries
1. Antioxidant action
If Tibetan and traditional Chinese medicine use them to recharge vital energy (Qi), in particular, that of the Yin meridians of organs such as kidneys, lungs, and liver, modern phytotherapeutic research has confirmed its effectiveness: for example, a research conducted by a team from the University of Sydney (Australia) has demonstrated the presence in goji berries of an extraordinary amount of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, vitamins and essential fatty acids, capable of helping to protect the skin from the aggressive action of radicals free and to promote the normal functionality of the organs.
2. Protection of skin and eyes
In addition to the antioxidant power, which is the strength of these berries, they also have an action to counteract the aging of the skin, given that the many antioxidants present in these fruits help to soothe skin inflammations and protect the epidermis from external agents. Furthermore, thanks to carotenoids, goji is proving to be a very good element for eye health.
3. Support for natural defenses
Goji berries help the cardiovascular system and support the functions of the immune system thanks to the presence of four bioactive polysaccharides (not present in any other known species) called Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides (LBP1, LBP2, LBP3, LBP4).
Goji is often recommended to assist the immune system in convalescence or periods of fatigue. LBPs and the high content of carotenoids promote an increase in the number of white blood cells (lymphocytes), as well as enhancing the ability of phagocytes to defend the human body from pathogens. In this regard, in goji we also find a natural derivative of Vitamin C (AA-2BG) which, in addition to acting as an antioxidant, strengthens the body's natural defenses, helping to protect it from damage to tissues, cells, and DNA.
4. Control of blood sugar and cholesterol
The flavonoids contained in the berries also contribute to reducing the risks of high cholesterol and hyperglycemia together with the other oxidants recent studies have shown that the extracts of goji berries have significant hypoglycaemic properties. Those with high LDL cholesterol problems seem to be able to significantly reduce their level.
Contraindications of goji berries
These fruits are a non-toxic product, however, it is important to keep in mind some recommendations. For example, if consumed in excessive quantities, they can cause a sense of satiety and lack of appetite, as well as stimulate complications in people suffering from intestinal disorders (such as diarrhea), due to their laxative properties. Goji berries could create medicinal interactions when taken simultaneously with anticoagulants, some heart drugs, immunosuppressants, and drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. Given the presence of betaine and lutein, the berries are not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Have you ever tried goji berries? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments!
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