GOJI BERRIES are native to the Himalayas. They are the red fruits of plants in the Lycium genus, which are related to potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco, other plants in the Nightshade family.
In English they are also known as ‘wolfberries’. Available as a dried fruit, powder or juice, goji berries have been used in ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’ for hundreds of years, and are now gaining popularity as a ‘superfruit’ – because they contain so many nutrients and antioxidants. These red berries, which resemble small peppers, have been used for more than 5000 years in East Asia.
Goji berries are very high in fibre and vitamin A—they contain more betacarotene than any other food, even carrots—and, to a lesser extent, vitamin C (more than oranges per weight), calcium and iron. Goji berries are also very high in antioxidants, so they are a great anti-inflammatory and detoxifier.
In ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’, goji is used as an immune tonic and a blood tonic. Research on their medicinal properties is being carried out around the globe.
Be sure to buy organic or at least sulfur-free goji berries, as the berries of Chinese origin have been found to have unacceptable levels of pesticides, leading to the confiscation of these products. Find these in your health food store and some supermarkets
