Goji berries or technically Lycium barbarum (Latin) has always been considered a miracle product. There are many legends built around Goji berries and even festivals are held in its honor. And if that is not enough even a renowned Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty (772-842 AD) wrote a poem dedicated to its benefits. There is a legend around it. It was during the Tang Dynasty that something queer happened.
A famous Buddhist temple had a well dug near its wall. The wall was covered with Goji vines and Goji berries used to fall into the well for years. What was surprising was that monks living in the temple always remained in good health and even in old age no one had a single white hair and most had not lost a single tooth. Why was that so? Well, because they drank water from the well.
Himalayans were perhaps the first natural healers of the world and they propagated their knowledge to herbalists of China, India and Tibet. And what was their one cure all secret? Well, it was Goji berries that were the native of Himalayas. And when people came to the Himalayan valleys and came to know about the effectiveness of Goji berries, they took the vines to their homes and planted it there. That is how the knowledge about Goji berries spread.
The importance of Goji berries for people of Central Asia could be gauged from the fact that they celebrate for two week every year in honor of Goji berries. Scientists found out four primary bioactive polysaccharides in Lycium barbarum. These were known as Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). These unique compounds actually manage most of the biochemical defense systems of our body.
And the knowledge that Goji berries are not limited to herbalists only. Major universities have undertaken research on Goji berries and they have actually come to the same conclusion. There have been over fifty studies related to Goji berries and have been published in almost all the better reputed health journals.
Some of these journals include: International Immunopharmacology, Journal of Ethano pharmacology, British Journal of Nutrition, China Pharmacology and Toxicology, Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chinese Herb News Magazine Research Communications Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology Chinese Patent Herbs, Nature Reviews Drugs, Chinese Herbs, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery Chinese Oncology Magazine, Physiology Academic Journal Chinese Stomatology, Hygiene Research and a whole lot more.
You can find a lot more about Goji berries in the book "Goji: The Himalayan Health Secret" written by Dr. Mindell. He writes in the book that there are many longest living people in the world who have been consuming this red fruit on a daily basis. Goji berry is no doubt the most effective anti-aging food in the world. What is more it is perhaps the most nutritionally dense food present.
Some of the major nutrients found in Goji juice are the glyconutrients and the phytonutrients. Glyconutrients provide the body with eight essential sugars that are necessary for human growth while the twenty two phytonutrients help in intercellular communication.
Let us have a look at some of the benefits of Goji juice.
Boosts your immune system to fight diseases
Powerful antioxidant helping in fighting premature ageing.
Regulates blood pressure
Regulates blood sugar at the initial stages of diabetes
Prevents DNA mutation, inhibits tumor growth and control peroxidation of lipids. All this helps in preventing the risk of cancer
Positively affect vision and cardiac functions and also works wonders for headaches and insomnia.
Sexual health and fertility is improved
Weight regulation
Improves dry cough
Improves digestive system and also improves memory.
Let us have a look at the composition of Goji berry to understand why it is so beneficial.
Germanium, which is not found in any other fruit
Carotenoids like beta carotene and vitamin C
Four important polysaccharides named LBP1, LBP2, LBP3 and LBP4. These are the key for good health.
19 amino acids that also includes the eight most essential amino acids. Also contains about twenty one minerals in traces including copper, selenium, zinc, phosphorus and others.
Zeaxanthin which is very beneficial for the eyes, B-complex and fatty acids.
Vitamin E, rarely found in fruits. It is generally found in nuts and seeds.
Cyperone, Beta-Sitosterol (anti-inflammatory), Solavetivone, Betaine (cardiovascular system), Linoleic acid (weight loss) and Physalin.
Iron concentration is about 11 mg per 100 gm of fruit which is very high.
You can easily get Goji juice from health stores and there are many online stores that can provide you with Goji juice. It is recommended to take two to four ounce daily but there are no side effects of increased dosages. Most of the people start feeling the health benefits within one month.
