Lets us explore rfor Health Benefits of Goji Berry. Goji berry fruit comes from China and is known as a super fruit that is healthy for the body. In Latin is called Lycium barbarum. Goji berries, also known as wolfberry. Thousands of years ago this fruit has been utilized as food and medicine in China and Tibet. While the eastern world, know this fruit lately.
In 1988 China institute of nutrition research has tested Goji Berry fruit and they found that these fruits contain vitamin E, vitamin B6 and B1. In addition, goji berry is said to contain a lot of protein and even beat the protein in wheat, 21 trace minerals (include the iron, zinc, copper, calcium, selenium, germanium, phosphorus, anti-cancer and more) and 18 amino acids, beta-carotene, a high vitamin C, said 500 times more than vitamin C in oranges and many other nutrients bladder.
History of Goji Berry
Goji Berry Fruit has been thousands of years ago used as food and medicine in the area of China and Tibet. While in western world they know this fruit in recently time.
Goji Berry Plant
Goji Berry plants can grow 1-3 meters with purple flowers and bell-shaped, triangular lobes. While the branches is thorny and leaves are round or blunt ends.
Goji Berry plants including plants durable because it can life for along time, it is about 4-5 years. These plants grow well in moist fertile place.
Fruit Characteristic
Wolfberry or Goji Berry is aeneous with a diameter of 1-2 cm. It feels is like combination of raspberry and cherry. Seeds in each fruit contains as much as 10 to 60 seeds.
To get the Goji Berry fruit you have to wait until July because the fruit be ripe and harvest usually from july to October.
Nutritional Value of Goji Berry
Calories from Fat 1.00 Kcal.
| Proximity | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 2.1 g | |
| Energy | 98 Kcal | |
| Energy | 409 kJ | |
| Protein | 3.99 g | 7.98% |
| Total Fat (lipid) | 0.11 g | 0.31% |
| Ash | 0.22 g | |
| Carbohydrate | 21.58 g | 16.60% |
| Total dietary Fiber | 3.6 g | 9.47% |
| Total Sugars | 12.77 g |
| Minerals | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Iron, Fe | 1.9 mg | 23.75% |
| Sodium, Na | 83 mg | 5.53% |
| Calcium, Ca | 53 mg | 5.30% |
| Vitamins | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 390 µg | 55.71% |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) | 13.6 mg | 15.11% |
| Amino Acids | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Threonine | 0.1 g | 5.68% |
| Isoleucine | 0.073 g | 4.37% |
| Valine | 0.088 g | 4.17% |
| Histidine | 0.044 g | 3.57% |
| Leucine | 0.128 g | 3.46% |
| Lysine | 0.065 g | 1.94% |
| Methionine | 0.024 g | |
| Cystine | 0.04 g | |
| Phenylalanine | 0.076 g | |
| Tyrosine | 0.062 g | |
| Arginine | 0.202 g | |
| Alanine | 0.195 g | |
| Aspartic acid | 0.479 g | |
| Glutamic acid | 0.401 g | |
| Glycine | 0.085 g | |
| Proline | 0.28 g | |
| Serine | 0.139 g |
Source: ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2221
Health Benefits of Goji Berry (Wolfberry)
Goji berry fruit can be generally useful as an immune enhancer. It contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti, anti fungal. Goji berries are also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, antioxidants, potassium, iron, zinc, iron and others.
Ordinary Chinese people take advantage of goji berry fruit to get a long life (long-lived), and for strength. Another benefit is that outside of gojiberry improve eye health, and improve liver function.
For more details about health benefits of Goji Berry, here we describe one by one.
1. Reducing cholesterol levels
Health benefits of Goji berry is immense and one of them is as a guard for the heart. Consuming goji berry could be the blood flow and eliminate cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a major cause of heart disease, it impedes the flow of blood to form plaques in the blood vessels and arteries. But the goji berry can remove plaque and flow the blood.
Based on the latest research that Goji Berry fruit beneficial for lowering levels of bad cholesterol in the body or LDL.
2. Preventing diabetes
Diabetes is a health problem that could impact on many other issue. One of the diseases caused by diabetes are obesity, heart disease, liver, eye disease, and even stroke.
Based on the latest research say that the goji berry fruit contains a hypoglycemic. Substances that are beneficial for preventing diabetes without side effects.
3. Protect the cardiovascular system
When free radicals attack the heart, then it will be weak. Anti-oxidants are present in Goji Berry works to prevent damage to the liver from the effects of free radicals.
4. Prevent free radicals
The formation of free radicals in the body will be dissolved by Goji berry extract. Effects of free radicals harmful to health because it can damage the body’s tissues, cells, cell membranes and even DNA.
Based on research showing that the goji berry fruit can provide tremendous health benefits that associated with free radicals. Antioxidants in the Goji Berry fruit is also beneficial to boost immunity.
5. Healthy Body
It is the common benefit of the goji berry. With all the nutritional content, Goji Berry will keep the body from various health problems.
A research has shown that Goji Berry can improve digestion and reduce stress and fatigue. Another great health benefit of goji berry is improve the performance of neurological and psychological.
6. Prevent damage to body cells
Free radicals are substances that work to destroy the body. Free radicals destroy body from the inside and damage the brain and neurons. This is known as a cause of neurodegenerative. However, these complaints can be overcome and treated by consuming Goji Berry. In this case, Goji berry has anti neuroprotective properties (keep the nerves)
7. Prevent Cancer
Health benefits of Goji berry also keeping the body from cancer. In Chinese medicine that the goji berry became ingredients to cure cancer beside to other foods.
Scientific research regarding the goji berry fruit lead to the conclusion that these fruits contain anti-cancer substances so good in dealing with this issue. In the experiments on humans, Goji berry can prevent the development of cancer and death cell.
8. Protect skin from UV
Attacks and threats of ultraviolet rays can damage the skin could even be a cause for skin cancer. But this problem solved by consuming goji berry fruit. Goji berry extracts can prevent skin damage from ultraviolet radiation.
The study said that the goji berry fruit can prevent the weakening of the body’s systems and prevent inflammation because it contains antioxidants.
9. Protecting the heart
Furthermore, the health benefits of goji berry is to protect the liver damage. The free radicals that occurs continuously in the body can weaken the heart (when the heart retains destiny).
In Chinese medicine, Goji Berry is used as a cure for heart disease. Goji Berries contain antioxidants that can eliminate free radicals in the liver.
10. Improve sleep quality
In the world of Chinese medicine, goji berry fruit is used to improve sleep quality and reduces stress levels.
This is in line with modern research that says the goji berry fruit can promote sleep without side effects.
11. Improve sperm quality
The other health benefits of goji berry in the world of health is also evident in improving sperm quality. This is thanks to the content of aphrodisiac, research has shown that the aphrodisiac can reduce damage to the testicles and banish stress caused by hydrogen peroxide (a substance that lowers semen and quality).
Also see:
- Mediterranean Fruits: Plum, Fig, Jujube to Pomegranate
- 10 Health Benefits of Pomegranate, Super fruits
12. Goji Berries for eye health
The presence of antioxidants in goji berry can improve eye health and prevent damage to the eyes or cataracts caused by free radicals.
How to Consume Goji Berry
Goji berries can be consumed directly or in the form of juice. Enter goji berries in a glass of cold or hot water, let stand for 10 minutes and enjoy.
You can also add goji berry dried fruit in other dishes. Goji berries can also be used as a fruit in smoothie with various other fruits and shakes into one.
