What makes them superfruit is their amazing efficacy in maintaining health, energy, and wellness; their preventative potency against illness and aging; and their healing powers on chronic inflammation and devastating and incapacitating diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer). I have been also discussing their contents of essential nutrients, phytochemicals, and color code; published medical and scientific researches; health claims in clinical trials; and potential health benefits. All these aspects make them stand out as superfruits. Today’s article is about goji, or wolfberry (toot al-thi’ib), the fifth superfruit. Goji, Lycium barbarum, originated in China. It is cultivated in the regions of the Yellow River valley. For thousands of years, ancient Chinese herbalists respected the berry’s health-maintaining and medicinal value. Goji is particularly appreciated by traditional medicine for its effectiveness in protecting the eyesight from age-related blindness. Because of its scarcity outside China and Tibet, people around the globe are not very familiar with the berry. It was only introduced to the West in the recent years and was acclaimed by journalists in 2008 as “superfruit of the year.”
The broad-spectrum-nutrient goji is one of the numerous berry family. It is abundant in polysaccharides (soluble fiber); vitamins A, B2, C and E; important minerals (copper, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc); phytochemicals like carotenoids (zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, lycopene) and polyphenols (anthocyanins, ellagic acid); essential fatty acids (omega-3 and -6 fats); and phytosterols. A 100 gram serving can provide close to your daily requirement of necessary nutrients.
Goji’s concentration of vitamins and minerals is essential to the heart. Its minerals are important cofactors to numerous enzyme functions in order to produce optimal biological activities. Polysaccharides (prebiotic fiber) in the superfruit offer health protection in many ways like reducing high blood cholesterol levels; detoxifying the vascular system; and decreasing the risk of cancer. Phytosterols in the fruit and vitamin E and omega-3 and -6 fats in the seeds also contribute to lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Goji is very rich in phytochemicals such as carotenoids and polyphenols coming from its intense red pigment. A carotenoid in the fruit called zeaxanthin, a phytocompound very similar in configuration to lutein, exists in high concentration in the macula, a small area in the retina. The pigments in the superberry help attenuate the very strong sunray’s harmful effects, thus reducing risk of developing age-related macular degeneration disease (AMD) and glaucoma, eye diseases resulting in blindness.
Because wolfberry was unknown outside China and Asia, people were unaware of the significant research, which is taking place there. The benefits of the superberry were put to medicinal use to prevent age-related vision loss; cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory and immune disorders; and cancer. Ongoing research points to the effectiveness of goji’s phytocompounds in delaying age-related diseases by suppressing toxic substances, which damage brain cells (Alzheimer’s), also protecting the macula along with visual acuity.
Only a week ago (Riyadh, daily newspaper, April 1, 2010, page 39), a group of scientists at the University of Kansas submitted their studies on wolfberry, which link the berry to retinal protection due to its antioxidant activity on age-related visual decline and immune mechanism. It was also found that it has tonifying properties on the liver and kidneys. The thrill behind this finding is the berry’s potential preventative effect on age-and-disease-related blindness resulting from diabetes Type 2, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma.
Goji is commonly found in dry form like raisins, but it is thinner, chewier, and less moist. Even when dried, it surprisingly retains its bright red color. This is probably due to its richness in vitamin C and antioxidants, which preserve the berry pigment as well as protect the vascular system and eyes from oxidation and free radicals.
It takes some time to get accustomed to the berry’s unusual flavor. It is often added to snack bars and cereals or can be consumed mixed with dried cherry and cranberry or with your favorite nuts in reasonable portions. Thanks to the savvy of certain food-suppliers, the superberry has become available locally in specialized nut or health stores (Al-Rifai or Abazeer Spices). A cup of thirty berries makes a serving. The bright red juice is found in dilute or concentrated form in Philipino mini markets. It can be added to fresh orange juice or any other.
It is worth including the berry in your diet for its health bonuses, especially to preserve your vision throughout youth and old age. Goji may be little-known, but it is loaded with essential nutrients and phytochemicals waiting for you to enjoy.
