What Are Goji Berries and Why Are They Good For You?
It’s pretty likely that you’ve heard about goji berries (Lycium barbarum) before. This Eastern remedy has started to make its way into the Western world.
Keep in mind that the strength of Western medicine is based on commercialized drugs that are made in factories. However, thanks to the process of globalization, the cultural gaps have gradually narrowed on a worldwide level. Because of this, our understanding of the far east is becoming more and more influential.
This comes with an even better understanding of healthy foods that are beneficial for our bodies, like goji berries.
What are goji berries?
These berries are one of the foods with the most benefits to prevent skin aging. Goji berries from the Himalayas have been used way back in China.
This fruit is also called the goji cherry, the Tibetan goji berry, or the cherry of Tibet.
The most important components
The success of these berries comes form their nutritional composition. This includes:
- Vitamins (B1, B2, B6, C, and E)
- Beta-carotene
- Lycopene
- Minerals (Calcium, Potassium, Selenium, Iron, Zinc, Germanium)
- Lutein
- Essential amino acids
The properties of goji berries
This food continues to grow in recognition around the world. This is due, in large part, to its properties.
Even though everyone can greatly benefit from them, the greatest benefits are for women.
Let’s take a look at some of their amazing benefits:
1. They improve your overall health
The majority of the components in this berry are some of the best natural antioxidants known in the whole world.
In addition, it has more beta-carotene than carrots. Beta-carotene contributes to fighting damage caused by free radicals that are responsible for cellular deterioration.
Eating these berries can help keep premature aging at bay.
On the other hand, they stimulate the growth hormone. This hormone is responsible for reducing body fat. Plus, it improves your sleep, memory, and tissue restoration for affected areas.
2. They could possibly reduce your likelihood of suffering from cancer
According to a study carried out in 2009, eating goji berries slows cellular mutations that are responsible for producing cancer in mice. This is because of its antioxidant properties and germanium.
In addition, it supports and protects your liver.
3. They help your body to regulate your cholesterol
As you already know, cholesterol is usually divided into HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol). Thus, we recommend a healthy diet that keeps your levels balanced.
The foods you eat can help regulate your cholesterol along with other things. These include exercise and natural alternatives that help regulate digestion.
In the case of cholesterol, you can regulate it significantly by eating a healthy diet that includes goji berries. This is thanks to their beta-sitosterol. A great chemical compound that’s effective when dealing with cholesterol imbalances.
On the other hand, this food also contains flavonoids. These are in charge of keeping your blood vessels fully functioning. Plus, they keep cholesterol from sticking to them.
Also read:
Try This Effective Diet to Reduce Bad Cholesterol
4. They increase weight loss
By reducing your cholesterol, the fat stored in your body turns into energy. This is synthesized in your body on a day-to-day basis.
The goal is to combine your intake of goji berries with regular exercise. This way, you’ll lose weight in a healthy way.
You may also be interested in:
Five Yoga Exercises For Weight Loss
5. They help your heart
The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. In this sense, it’s important to keep it in the best condition possible.
Eating goji berries on a regular basis can be a great help. Thanks to their anthocyanin, they strengthen your coronary arteries.
Also, these berries contain cyperone. This is a phytochemical that helps you regulate blood pressure in your heart.
6. They improve your eye health.
If you stop to think, you’ll realize that your eyes are one of your most used organs.
You expose them to multiple factors. As a result, they’re subject to considerable wear. In general, this results in the use of glasses or surgery.
These berries are one of the many amazing natural remedies that can help improve your eye health. Their components could play a useful role in the prevention of macular degeneration and cataracts.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Almajano, M. “Determinación de la actividad antioxidante de las bayas de goji.” Consorci Escola Industrial de Barcelona (2009): 1-12.
- Araneda Gallardo, María José, Francisca Carolina Henríquez Díaz, and Marcela Daniela Romo Poblete. Incidencias de diferentes métodos, tratados con bayas de Goji, auriculoterapia y régimen hipocalórico, en personas adultas diabética, durante el período de octubre a diciembre del año 2015. Diss. UCINF, 2016.
- Gálvez, Jhon Chalco. “Comparación de la capacidad antioxidante de las bayas de Goji, frente a otras bayas rojas, mediante el método ORAC.” REDUCA 4.10 (2012).
- Salgado, Fernando. “La realidad sobre el “Gou Qi Zi” o bayas Goji (Fructus Lycii).” Revista Internacional de Acupuntura 5.2 (2011): 82-86.