Why eat goji berries

These berries therefore are a nearly complete source of protein, providing 13 percent more protein than weight. Beta-sitosterol is an anti-inflammatory agent that is present in goji berries.

It can help lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease, and promote sexual health. It is a plant substance similar to cholesterol that appears to lower cholesterol levels by limiting the amount of cholesterol that can enter the body. Goji berries can be cooked into vegan dinner dishes, eaten in vegan breakfast bowls, or eaten dried as a snack. Try making gluten-free goji berries , goji enery bites , quinoa salad with figs, purslane and goji and raw vegan chocolate pudding tart with coconut cream and goji berries.

Add this superfood to your diet to reap its many benefits! You must be logged in to post a comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. I love goji berries. Goji berries contain potent antioxidant properties for a healthier, happier and longer life.

According to the Signature Care Emergency Center , polysaccharides found in goji berries can stimulate human pituitary glands, which is just further proof that these berries possess potent anti-aging properties.

These glands secrete human growth hormone, a compound that is believed to help slow the aging process. According to Healthline , lab testing has found that the vitamins and antioxidants found in goji berries can have a significant impact on the overall immune response. The Signature Care Emergency Center indicates that goji berries contain times more vitamin C than oranges and more beta-carotene than carrots — and both of these compounds are well-known immune boosters.

In addition, goji berries were found to enhance the efficacy of the flu vaccine, as experiments done on aged mice indicated a heightened physical response to the flu vaccine. According to Medical News Today , the dense concentrations of vitamins and nutrients in goji berries can have a positive effect on the way we feel and how well we sleep. One study , in particular, revealed that drinking goji berry juice daily can improve your mood and give you a boost of energy when you need it.

Goji berries also have a positive effect on digestive and cardiovascular health, both of which contribute highly to overall wellness. Tests done on rats improved depression and anxiety behaviors, while subsequent human testing revealed an enhanced mental acuity and focus, athletic performance, and overall contented feeling among the test subjects. One experiment found that goji berry extracts were capable of increasing testosterone while relieving oxidative stress. These are two nutrients key to building immunity and preventing common illnesses like a cold, plus more serious chronic diseases like cancer or neurodegenerative decline.

Of the may antioxidants present in goji berries, carotenoids like zeaxanthin and precursors to vitamin C are the most extensively researched. High levels of these compounds give gojis a reputation for battling cancerous cells, fighting tumor growth, decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels and detoxifying the body of harmful toxins. Goji berry benefits also extend to other parts of the body thanks to their polysaccharides and glycoconjugate compounds that promote unique bioactive immunomodulating, anti-tumor and antioxidant activities in the brain, liver, reproductive organs and digestive tract.

Gojis are also reported to have anti-aging properties and show anti-tumor activities against various types of skin cancer cells by inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis. Similar to the benefits you get from eating other berries, goji berries are loaded with beta-carotene a pigment found in plants and fruits , which helps promote healthy skin and even acts like a natural skin cancer treatment. In an animal study done by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, drinking 5 percent goji berry juice supplied antioxidant activity that offered significant protection against skin disorders and lipid peroxidation of UV light damage.

Two known endogenous skin antioxidants are present in goji berries , heme oxygenase-1 and metallothionein, which were found to be involved in the photo-immune protection. The results show that drinking goji berry juice increases protection against free radical damage from the sun.

Gojis provide additional photoprotection for people who are susceptible to skin cancer and other skin disorders. Goji berry benefits also include the ability to protect eyes from age-related diseases like macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults. Goji berries are a natural treatment for macular degeneration and beneficial for vision because of their high levels of antioxidants especially zeaxanthin , which can help stop damage from UV light exposure, free radicals and other forms of oxidative stress.

Especially useful for people with diabetes, goji berries benefits also help control the release of sugar into the bloodstream, which prevents spikes and dips due to problems balancing glucose levels. Evidence shows that gojis exhibit significant hypoglycemic effects and insulin-sensitizing activity by increasing glucose responsiveness. As part of a healthy diet, a natural diabetes remedy and a way to increase insulin sensitivity, goji berries are one of the best choices for those with trouble balancing blood glucose levels and its effects.

Reducing sugar intake and increasing responsiveness to insulin is extremely important for the growing number of diabetes cases in the U. Goji berries are believed to offer liver protection and are used along with traditional herbs like licorice, ganoderma, gynostemna and pentaphylla in many liver cleanses.

This makes them a great kidney stone natural remedy as well as a good food for cleansing the blood. According to a study from the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine , drinking goji berry juice regularly can help increase energy levels, moods and improve digestive health, too.

Try having some gojis as a pre-workout snack to get you going and keep your stamina up. Traditionally, the Chinese believe that goji berry nutrition benefits the reproductive system and offers increased fertility.

Goji berries are believed to increase sperm count and the vitality of sperm. Evidence shows additional goji berry benefits include treating female infertility in patients with premature ovarian failure and the inability to ovulate normally. Knowing that goji berry benefits include the ability to increase mood, reduce stress and fight inflammation, TCM practitioners prescribe a dose of six to 15 grams daily for balancing yin and restoring hormonal health.

Results from a study done by the College of Public Health at Wuhan University in China showed gojis protect against testicular tissue damage induced by heat exposure, raise antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase in the reproductive system, raise sexual hormone levels and protect against DNA oxidative damage to testicular cells. These findings support the folk reputation that gojis are effective for fighting infertility.

What are the side effects of goji berries?