Goji Berry

 

What is Goji Berry?

 

The scientific name of Goji Berry: Lycium barbarum

Goji berries belong to the Nightshade family.

Goji berry is a small red fruit that is a lot of antioxidants and powerful medicinal properties. These are red-orange berries full of very tasty sweet, slightly sour taste and amazing taste.

Goji berries, also known as Wolfberry. Goji berries, which come from a native shrub in China. Most of the goji berries sold in the United States are dried and imported from China. People have used goji berries to treat many common health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fever and age-related eye problems. It even counteracts aging, strengthens the liver, kidneys and lungs. Goji berry, which some brands have a “superfood”, is eaten raw, cooked, or dried (like raisins) and used in herbal teas, juices, wines and medicines. These berries are often found in dried or powdered form and are added to various recipes. Goji berry vines usually grow in Asia and look a bit like grape tomatoes.

 

Goji Berries Potential Health Benefits

Goji berries are a lot of antioxidant phytochemicals, including carotenoids, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your body’s cells. When free radicals are oxidized then they damage DNA and tissue cells. 

Eye Health

Goji berries can help eyesight because they contain high levels of healthy antioxidants.

These antioxidants protect the eyes from the damage of ultraviolet rays and free radicals. 

Prevent cancer 

Goji berry extract has been linked to anti-cancer activity in research on both animals and humans. Research in rats found that a regular diet of goji berries hindered the progression of cancerous tumors.

High levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C and carotenoids fight cancer cells. Antioxidants prevent tumor growth and help remove harmful substances from the body. 

Weight Loss

Goji berries have some properties that can reduce their weight.

For example, they are high in fiber, which can help control blood sugar and appetite, helping you feel full for longer. There is some evidence that goji berry juice can help reduce weight by increasing metabolic rate. One study found that when healthy overweight men and women ate 4-ounce concentrations of goji berry juice, their ability to burn calories after one hour was 10 percent higher than those who did not consume juice. When participants consumed goji berry juice within 14 days, their waist circumference decreased by an average of 1.9 inches (4.7 cm) compared to the control group.

However, goji berry juice can help you lose weight by burning calories. The research found that eating 14 grams of goji berries a day supports healthy metabolism and can lead to weight loss.

Hair Growth

Goji berry is a very nice ingredient to use in your hair. They contain natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredients that have perfect anti-inflammatory properties to maintain a healthy scalp. These are known to help hair growth.

Skin Health

Goji berries contain beta carotene, which improves skin health, helps reduce skin irritation, controls the effects of aging and protects against skin disorders.

 

The Goji berry antioxidant is helpful for male infertility

Research has shown that goji protects sperm from hyperthermia while increasing hormone levels and sperm quantity and quality. Goji fruit can help male infertility by increasing sperm count and motility. A study of 42 men identified for infertility due to low sperm count and motility. Their Goji berries diet resulted in a normal increase in the number of sperm in 33 of the tested men, and all of those men became fathers.

 

Highly nutritious of Goji berry

 

Water:                           7.5 g

Energy:                        349 kcal

Energy:                        1460 kj

Protein:                        14.3 g

Total lipid (fat):            0.39 g

Ash:                              0.78 g

Carbohydrate:              77.1 g

Fiber:                               13 g

Sugars:                         45.6 g

Calcium:                      190 mg

Iron:                             6.8 mg

Sodium:                      298 mg

Vitamin C :                  48.4 mg

Vitamin A :                  26800  IU

Fatty acids :                    0 mg

Cholesterol:                   0 mg

Threonine:                    0.358g

Isoleucine:                   0.261 g

Leucine:                       0.456 g

Lysine:                          0.233 g

Methionine:                  0.087 g

Cystine:                         0.144 g

Phenylalanine:              0.271 g

Tyrosine:                      0.222 g

Valine:                          0.316 g

Arginine:                     0.722 g

Histidine:                    0.157 g

Alanine:                      0.698 g

Aspartic acid:               1.71 g

Glutamic acid:             1.43 g

Glycine :                     0.304 g

Proline:                             1 g

Serine:                       0.498 g

 

Why The Goji berries are bad for you?

Goji Berries Side Effects

 

Goji berries risk of allergies

Fresh and dried goji berries usually do not cause any side effects in healthy people.

Eating too much goji berry can make the body very sensitive to the lipid transfer protein in the berry.

Symptoms include hives, obstruction of the airways, and gastrointestinal problems. People at risk of food allergies should not eat goji berries unless they have their doctor’s approval.

 

Goji berries risk with drug interactions

One research found that Goji berries can cause drug interactions with some drugs, including warfarin. And sores on the body, causing symptoms of rectal bleeding.

The sugar levels can be reduced

Goji berry can lower blood sugar levels. But if you take diabetes medication with Goji berries, your blood sugar levels can go down a lot. So, if you are taking treatment for diabetes, consult your doctor before eating goji berry.

Goji berries risk of hypotension

Goji berry can help lower blood pressure levels. Goji berry can increase the effectiveness of drugs that lower blood pressure. Eating goji berries along with medicines can cause hypotension or dangerously low blood pressure levels.  If you are already taking medication to treat high blood pressure, consult your doctor before eating goji berry.

Goji berries risk of diarrhea

For those who have digestive problems, eating goji berries can cause abdominal pain and even diarrhea.

 

How to grow goji berries plant?

 

Before planting goji berry seeds, soak them in water for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Fill the pot with a pot of soil. Sow in the middle of the pot where the root starts. The pot should be level with the top layer of soil. Water the pot until new growth sprouts and keep in full sun. No fertilizer is required.

The plants need extracted soil for plants, add compost to improve soil texture if necessary. Examine the extracted soil should have a pH level between 6.8 and 8.1.

The best time to plant goji berries is early spring. After seeing Goji berry seedlings grow 6-8 inches,

Soak the roots in water and plant in a sunny place. Lightly push the soil around the roots. Plant each goji berry tree at least 2 feet away. Keep the soil slightly moist for the first few months. The trees can grow up to 10-13 feet tall and about 4 feet wide. You will get limited results in the first year from the time of sowing, but in the second to the third year you expect full results.

You can start by planting goji berry seeds, which will take the longest time to bear fruit. Alternatively, you can plant a root crown cutting, which will bear fruit faster than seeds.