New wonder foods and super fruits often cause a media sensation before interest fades. The red wolfberry from the Ninxgia region of China is a fruit that seems to exceed all expectations and will gain a permanent place in the history of health foods. Also known as the goji berry (or Tibetan goji berry), red wolfberry juice and other derivatives have been a hit.
Two species of wolfberry are cultivated: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. It is native to Tibet, Mongolia and China and the fruit is a staple in Chinese medicine. In the West it has long been grown as an ornamental garden plant.
Along with other superfruits, the wolfberry or goji berry has been identified as a highly nutritious food, as well as having medicinal properties. It is especially rich in antioxidant-rich phenols, which counteract the ageing and carcinogenic effects of free radicals. They contain four times more antioxidant than prunes, one of the fruits highest in antioxidants.
Scientific analysis of the nutritional potency of goji berries has shown that they contain a wealth of vitamin C (as much as 150 mg per 100g in fresh, rather than dried, berries). This makes them a far better source of vitamin C than fruits like the orange. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is abundant in the wolfberry, as is beta carotene, essential for maintaining healthy eyesight. Research has also revealed that these berries are mineral-rich, containing calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and selenium.
Less well-known components of the wolfberry inlcude zeaxanthin (a carotenoid), plant sterols, polysaccharides and amino and fatty acids. Some unscrupulous merchants have made unsubstantiated claims for the health benefits of the wolfberry, touting it as protecting against breast cancer. These claims have been found wanting by European and American food and medicine regulatory bodies, and consumers should be wary of extravagant promises.
Chinese traditional healers use the wolfberry fruit and bark in a variety of medicines and tonics. The fruit is believed to enhance longevity and a Chinese man who ate it daily was supposed to have lived for two and a half centuries! It is prescribed to boost the complexion, promote kidney and liver health, aid male potency and enhance the eyesight. Scientific research suggests that some elements found in the wolfberry may indeed be effective in various diseases and conditions, including cervical cancer, hepatitis B and high blood pressure. Goji berries may lower cholesterol and seem to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects.
One of the most popular forms in which wolfberries or goji berries are marketed is as a fruit juice. These products are usually juice blends, rather than pure goji juice. It is also worth noting that the quality of the products available varies according to where it is grown, how it is cultivated and the methods used to process it. - 16004
Two species of wolfberry are cultivated: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. It is native to Tibet, Mongolia and China and the fruit is a staple in Chinese medicine. In the West it has long been grown as an ornamental garden plant.
Along with other superfruits, the wolfberry or goji berry has been identified as a highly nutritious food, as well as having medicinal properties. It is especially rich in antioxidant-rich phenols, which counteract the ageing and carcinogenic effects of free radicals. They contain four times more antioxidant than prunes, one of the fruits highest in antioxidants.
Scientific analysis of the nutritional potency of goji berries has shown that they contain a wealth of vitamin C (as much as 150 mg per 100g in fresh, rather than dried, berries). This makes them a far better source of vitamin C than fruits like the orange. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is abundant in the wolfberry, as is beta carotene, essential for maintaining healthy eyesight. Research has also revealed that these berries are mineral-rich, containing calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and selenium.
Less well-known components of the wolfberry inlcude zeaxanthin (a carotenoid), plant sterols, polysaccharides and amino and fatty acids. Some unscrupulous merchants have made unsubstantiated claims for the health benefits of the wolfberry, touting it as protecting against breast cancer. These claims have been found wanting by European and American food and medicine regulatory bodies, and consumers should be wary of extravagant promises.
Chinese traditional healers use the wolfberry fruit and bark in a variety of medicines and tonics. The fruit is believed to enhance longevity and a Chinese man who ate it daily was supposed to have lived for two and a half centuries! It is prescribed to boost the complexion, promote kidney and liver health, aid male potency and enhance the eyesight. Scientific research suggests that some elements found in the wolfberry may indeed be effective in various diseases and conditions, including cervical cancer, hepatitis B and high blood pressure. Goji berries may lower cholesterol and seem to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects.
One of the most popular forms in which wolfberries or goji berries are marketed is as a fruit juice. These products are usually juice blends, rather than pure goji juice. It is also worth noting that the quality of the products available varies according to where it is grown, how it is cultivated and the methods used to process it. - 16004
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