Goji Berries - Real Benefits

If you are on a quest for 'Tibetan' Goji berries because of their unique magical properties compared with other Goji berries, perhaps it is the fact that they are far better because the high altitude air is cleaner, and purer. Or that they are nourished by the ancient blessed mineral waters that flow from high in the ice capped mountains. It could be ritual chanting of Tibetan monks offering praise and thanks for their magical Goji Berry? .. I need to stop, it is rubbish, complete and utter hype!

Goji Berries are absolutely fantastic, they are extremely good for us, they are a superfruit.

Tibetan or not? The only genuine reason I can see for 'Tibeten' Goji Berries being more expensive than other Goji Berries is that only a tiny, tiny fraction of Goji Berries are grown in Tibet. The pure logistics of getting out there and shipping them would naturally make them more expensive , and that is if the Himalayan mountains in Tibet weren't as extremely inhospitable as they are and very few crops survive on those snow and ice covered peaks.

Sometimes called 'Gogi' berries and "Wolfberry," the latter seems to be the generic name. Latin name (Lycium Barbarum). The locals actually call them 'Happy Berries'.

Under the right conditions, Goji berries can grow anywhere and are known to grow in England; however we have to take into account the soil and climate that enhances the quality. Like any vegetation, if it isn't fed during growth it will have little or no nutrition.

We've looked at 'Tibetan' Gogi berries and will linger on them no more. Essentially there are two major regions where the highest quality Goji berries grow; these are Ningxia and Xinjiang, both are provinces in north-western China.

Despite the fact that they are in the mountains, they enjoy a lower altitude with absolutely minimum pollution and very rich soil.
Whilst shopping for Goji Berries, you might encounter the term "wild crafted" Goji berries.

One story that accompanies the 'wild crafted' Goji Berry sales pitch is that barefoot peasants carefully hand pick each and every berry to lovingly protect and preserve them.

By their very nature Goji berries are fragile and fresh berries are spoilt by the natural acids in the human hands, they turn from bright red to black, thus, pickers cannot touch them with bare hands, so how do they harvest Goji berries?

A gentle shake of the bush!, yep they place a skirt or trays under the bush and gently shake it. Only the ripe Goji berries fall. Could 'wild crafted' be an innocent direct translation of 'organic', yes it is feasible and I will not argue that theory.

Because human hands cannot come into direct contact with Goji berries because they get oxidized and lose some of their nutritional value, they are naturally dried by the sun after they are collected on custom made mats.

So, don't pay extra for 'sun dried'.

What do Goji berries taste like?; there is a certain 'nuttiness' in the taste, a bit of a tang but not sour. Combine the taste of cranberry with cherry, I think that is the best description.

This is where we can debunk a few myths or translate marketing speak into plain honest English.

Do Goji Berries have anti-aging properties? They are an antioxidant super-food, and antixidents slow down the ageing process.

Can Goji Berrys cure colds and flu? They fortify our immune system and that will help prevent those common bugs.

Can Goji Berrys cure anemia? They nourish blood and increase the production of white blood cellls. This could help stop anaemia but certainly helps fight infections. Goji Berries contain 21 essential minerals including
iron for the blood,
zinc for cell repair
zinc also helps with reproductive health,
selenium works with vitamin E as an antioxidant

Can Goji Berrys reduce joint pains? They reduce inflammation which in turn reduces pain.

Can Goji berries cure diabetes. They can delay the onset of diabetes but not without a drastic diet change and new health regime.

The advisable number of units of antioxidants a person should consume is between 5000 and 7000 ORAC units (ORAC stands for Oxidation Radical Absorbance Capacity)

Dried goji berries contain 22000 units per gram.

My personal choice of brand is Linwoods - available from Simply Feel Good

Linwoods Goji berries or wolf berries are from the Chinese province of Ningxia, it is nicknamed 'China's Herbal Medicine Valley'. The super fertile flood plains,alkaline soil, unpredictable precipitation and extreme temperature range ensure that Linwoods Goji Berries are packed with energy rich vitamins and minerals.

This is what Linwood say "Goji Berries contain eight essential amino acids which can only be obtained from our food. These amino-acids are central building blocks of protein and important for the growth and repair of muscles, bones and skin and rejuvenation of new cells. These small, raisin-like berries are a high anti-oxidant and bursting with Vitamin A and C. A daily serving of 30g of goji berries provides 16% RDA of Iron. Together these vitamins and minerals are essential for the maintenance of normal body functions, sustained energy and good health.

Goji berries are a national treasure in China and with one of the longest living populations in the world, you can see why!"

A delicious spreadable Goji berry jam.
1/4 cup Goji berries, soaked in water.
1/2 tsp grated orange zest
1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 tsp honey

Blend until pureed for a jam.

If you want an energizer drink add 1 cup filtered water to make a juice.