The Magical Goji Berry

Goji berries are at the top of the super foods list. The Chinese have associated these delicious berries with good health, vitality and longevity for thousands of years and modern medicine has substantiated many of their health benefits. Here are some facts that you should know about goji berries and their leaves. Protein: Goji berries are one of a handful of plant based foods that provide all of the building blocks for the essential proteins that the body cannot make for itself. Meats contain all of these essential amino acids but the vast majority of vegetables do not. Eye health: Goji berries are rich in zeaxanthin, the pigment that gives the berry its reddish color. People who consume goji berries have a lower incidence of age related macular degeneration. Interestingly, the leaves of goji berries, from which goji berry green leaf tea is made, have all of the healthful ingredients present in the berry itself, except for Zeaxanthin. That's why I add dried goji berries to the tea I market when they are available. Longevity and anti-aging properties: The Chinese have long associated the goji berry with longevity. Modern research has revealed that certain oils in the goji berry, called sesquiterpinoids, increase the production of human growth hormone, the only compound that has been proven to produce an ant-aging effect in humans. As we age our production of growth hormone decreases, by consuming goji berries you can compensate, at least in part, for this natural age induced decrease in this important ant-aging hormone. Heart disease: The consumption of goji berries increases the level of the superoxide dismutase in the body. This enzyme prevents the oxidation of cholesterol. In its oxidized form. Cholesterol contributes to heart disease; thus, by eating goji berries, or by drinking goji berry green leaf tea, you can lower your risk of heart disease. Immune system: Goji berries contain three compounds that will boost your immune system. Beta carotene stimulates the thymus gland; germanium protects against certain types of cancer; and the polysaccharides in the berries improve the overall function of the immune system. Antioxidants: Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals in our bodies which cause mutations in our DNA. The DNA mutations cause cell damage, aging and even cancer. Goji berries contain ant-oxidants, including vitamin c, zinc and copper, which protect our DNA from the harmful effects of these free-radicals. In fact, Goji berries contain more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable, including red grapes, strawberries and broccoli. This is the primary reason the goji berry is called a super fruit. Auto immune disorders: One in five of us suffer from an auto immune disorder in which the immune system attacks our own healthy cells rather than the bacteria and viruses that invade our bodies. The polysaccharides contained in goji berries provide specialized sugars that help our immune system distinguish between normal and abnormal invading cells. Finally, goji berries are rich in minerals. Some, called trace elements (copper, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous, germanium and selenium) are needed only in tiny amounts; others like iron and calcium are needed in larger amounts. The goji berry and their leaves supplies all of them. So why do you have to buy dried goji berries, which are mostly produced in China under very questionable agricultural conditions. The answer is quite simple, goji berries are extremely perishable and begin to deteriorate the minute they are removed from the vine. Basically, they turn to mush a few hours after they are picked. I am presently experimenting with ways to preserve goji berries so that they can be marketed fresh. Fortunately, except for zeaxanthin, the compound that gives the goji berry its reddish color, all of the beneficial compounds found in the goji berry also are present in their dried leaves from which I produce our goji berry green leaf tea. When available, I also add dried goji berries to the tea so that you can receive all of the beneficial effects of this magical berry when consuming our delicious green leaf tea. People on blood thinners like warfarin should not eat goji berries, otherwise they are safe for anyone to consume.