Goji berries (Lycium barbarum), also known as “King of Berries” and wolfberries, belong to the family of Solanaceae, and are a native to south-eastern Asia and Europe. It is also said to be the next “Fountain of Youth”, and the most nutritionally opaque fruit on the planet. Goji berries include almost every essential element, which is advantageous for our body.
Besides being a rich source of fiber, goji berries also contain 21 trace minerals. The article given below will offer you 11 health benefits of goji berries.
1. Insomnia
If consumed on a regular basis, goji berries will aid in your sleeplessness. Goji berries are a great tension-buster and help to tranquilize your mind. It trims down the amount of hydrocortisone (steroid hormone, released in our body during stress), which makes you feel happy and serene.
2. Keeps Your Heart in the Pink
Goji berries are very advantageous for your heart. The consumption of fiber lowers down the bad cholesterol (but maintains the good cholesterol), which leads to lesser risk of heart attacks. The powerhouse of antioxidants and beta-carotene, goji berries support your heart to beat healthily.
3. Memory Booster
Goji berries are known as memory potion because they possess betaine, the memory enhancer. Betaine converts itself into choline, which increases the ability of remembering and recalling.
4. Better Blood Circulation
Goji berries help your blood to circulate better in your body. It also helps in weight loss and works as a startling anti-inflammatory agent.
5. Stronger Muscles
Goji berries help in strengthening the muscles and bones by providing 18 amino acids, and also fulfil the necessity of protein in your body.
6. Increases Vision
Goji berries provide zeaxanthin and carotenoids, which help in increasing your eyesight. Goji berries not only protect the retina, but also eliminate the risk of age-related eye diseases (ARED) and prevent macular degeneration.
7. Enhances Fertility
According to a survey, it has been observed that goji berries chiefly increase testosterone level in the blood.
8. Slows Down Aging
Goji berries lessen the fat from the body, provide relaxation to your muscles, terminate the stress and stimulate the youth hormone, HGH (human growth hormone). This all helps in slowing down the signs of aging.
9. Promotes Longevity
Goji berries are branded as a longevity fruit. It supplies polysaccharides, which make your health good and life longer. Goji berry acts as an immunity booster and increases the stamina, which helps you in recovering from an illness very quickly.
10. Guards Your Liver
Some studies show that consuming goji berries can prevent liver cancer and fight chronic liver-related diseases. Goji berries reduce the fats, stocked in the liver, and eliminate the chances of fatty liver disease. It also provides an element, called “physalin”, which protects the liver and makes it strong.
11. Prevents Cancer
Goji berries are packed with antioxidants, which help in preventing the cervical cancer. Goji berries break down the tumour cells, and its inimitable polysaccharides prevent genetic mutations, thereby, averting the peril of cancer. It has also been proven to be superb in keeping the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation at bay.
We hope you enjoyed reading the 11 health benefits of goji berries, but the story doesn’t end yet. The food industry can mislead us into thinking we’re purchasing nutritious food when it’s packed with chemicals, so it’s important to know what to look for and avoid.
When purchasing dried goji berries, always check the ingredients list. Put down any products that contain sulfur dioxide, sugars or preservatives, as regular consumption of these will end up causing more damage than good.
To ensure you’ve purchased high-quality goji berries, the texture should remain soft yet dry and have no sign of a crunch. If you encounter a different texture or taste to this, it’s likely you’ve bought berries that are riddled with preservatives and unnatural flavorings.
Once you’ve purchased the healthiest ones you can find, it’s equally as important to properly store them. Keep them in a cool and dark place and they’ll last for a year. If you notice some brands offer a lifespan of more than one year, they’re probably packed with preservatives.
It’s best to keep berries away from direct sunlight and moisture as this can cause them to clump together. Store them in a plastic container or sealed bag, too.
