2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
One of the secrets of Asian longevity comes from the Tibetan Himalayas and northern China - Goji Berry. In our country, these small reddish fruits are gaining more and more popularity, although they have been valued all over the world for a long time.
Goji berry or lychee is the fruit of Lycium Barbarum or Lycium Chinense. It is an Asian plant of the Solanacea family. The name "goji" comes from the Chinese (gouqizi). Goji berry has been highly valued and used in traditional medicine since ancient China because of its valuable ingredients and properties on human health.
Apart from being lychees, these useful fruits are known as merjan. They are characterized by a sweet taste and neutral character. The highest quality fruits come from the Tibetan Himalayas and northern China. The cultivation and distribution of goji berry has long been an industry because it is certain that lychee fruit cures and protects against a number of clinical conditions and diseases. This is the reason why it is finding more and more fans all over the world.
It's considered that Goji berry is harvested for over 600 years in Ninxia, near the fertile lands of the Yellow River. It is here that the best quality lychees in all of China grow, which is why they are called "red diamonds". To this day, traditional Chinese healers use the fruits of this region for healing purposes. In the area of the Yellow River Lycium is deeply rooted in the tradition and culture of the locals. Even lavish festivals are organized annually in honor of the miracle fruits.
Goji berry is actually an extremely delicate small fruit, which is why its picking is especially careful - it is done only by hand, so as not to hurt the fine skin of the "red diamonds". It is best eaten fresh, but due to its delicacy and short shelf life in the fresh state, Goji berries are dried more often in the sun or subjected to mechanical dehydration using heat fluxes. At high altitudes, goji grows freely in the wild.
There are 2 types - Tibetan or Himalayan Goji Berry, depending on the geographical area in which they are produced. In addition, over time, they have acquired many other interesting names, such as "pleasure seeker", "fruit Viagra" and "cellulite sculptor". It's proved that Goji berry efficiently deal with these problems.
Composition and useful substances in Goji Berry
The recommended daily dose of Goji berry is about 30 grams. With this minimum amount, however, our body gets more vitamin C from oranges, more beta carotene from carrots and more iron from a serving of red meat. Goji berries are literally a bomb of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
They contain a lot of B vitamins and antioxidants that prevent the harmful effects of free radicals, which damage the cells in our body and cause aging. Their generous content of polysaccharides helps the functioning of the immune system. Goji berry contains 18 types of amino acids and potassium.
In its most general form, lycium contains: 6 essential vitamins, 11 essential elements, 22 minerals, 18 amino acids, 8 polysaccharides, 6 monosaccharides, 5 unsaturated fatty acids (linonenol and alpha-linolenic acid, beta-sitosterol and other phytosterols), 5 carotenoids, incl. beta carotene, lutein, etc., and many phenolic pigments (antioxidants).
In most fruits of Goji berry there is a lot of calcium - 112 mg / 100 g, potassium - 1130 mg / 100 g, iron - 9 mg / 100 g, zinc 2 mg / 100 g, selenium - 50 mcg / 100 g, riboflavin - 1.3 mg./100 g, vitamin C - between 29 and 148 mg./100 g and others. In 100 g of Goji berry we find a lot of phytochemicals: 7 mg of beta carotene, up to 200 mg of Zeaxanthin and up to 31% of the weight of the polysaccharide pulp.
Selection and storage of Goji berry
If you come across fresh and unharmed fruits of lychee, do not hesitate and grab them right away. It is fresh goji berries that give the most to your body. Unfortunately, due to its high demand and the fact that it has a very delicate outer shell, which makes it quite fragile, it is almost impossible to come across fresh fruit.
Built industry for billions, which is engaged in the cultivation, storage, processing, packaging and distribution of Goji berry. Today in the commercial network you can find the fruits most often packaged in transparent packaging. They are sold in dried form in nut kiosks, there is Goji berry juice, extract, etc. The price of Goji berry remains relatively expensive - for 100 g of fruit you will have to pay about BGN 10 at the booths. However, online shopping sites offer bargains, such as BGN 11-12 for 250 g of goji berry.
Culinary application of Goji Berry
Goji Berry's culinary application can find many dimensions, but still eaten fresh, "red diamonds" are the most valuable. In addition to being eaten raw, goji berries are consumed in the form of juice and even wine, brewed as a tea or prepared as a tincture. You can combine goji berry with muesli, oatmeal, yogurt, put them in salads, pastries, creams, smoothies and biscuits or semolina desserts.
Benefits of Goji Berry
A legend tells of a Chinese man who lived 252 years just because he ate Goji berry every day. Whether it is true or not remains a mystery, but it has been proven that small "happy berries" are a whole pharmacy for human health. They help maintain the youth of your skin, act preventively against cardiovascular problems and help strengthen the overall immune system.
As an excellent adaptogen Goji berry strengthens the body and help him cope better under stress. Furthermore, these Asian fruits have been proven to be a powerful weapon in the fight against cancer. If you are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you can use the fruits of Goji berryto protect against a drop in white blood cell levels and increase the effect of therapy.
They can protect your skin from sunburn, and large amounts of vitamin B and antioxidants are a faithful helper of a beautiful appearance and a healthy body inside.
This is an extremely useful fruit for the eyes. It strengthens vision, protects it from deterioration and various eye problems. Goji berry juice has a positive effect on the retina, which protects it from glaucoma.
Goji berries can be used to regulate blood sugar. Its properties have a proven effect on balancing blood glucose and insulin levels. They also take care to keep cholesterol levels low.
Goji berry is believed to have a positive effect on metabolism, cleansing the body and helping to reduce body weight. The legend of the 252-year-old Chinese man may be true, since even today it is believed that lycium prolongs life.
Goji berry helps with asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and a number of allergies. It has a very beneficial effect on unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, fatigue, tinnitus.
The fruit fights depression, emotional exhaustion and stress. You can consume it for mental stress. It has been proven to improve mood and calm the mind. To achieve this effect, goji berry juice should be taken for a period of 2 weeks without interruption. In addition, it improves brain activity, promotes memory and concentration. Fetal intake also significantly improves the quality of sleep.
Typical of traditional Chinese medicine is goji berry tea, which is made from the leaves of the plant and the bark of its roots. It has the ability to suppress the action of human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. There are studies that 100% claim that regular consumption of Goji berry can improve libido in men and restore their self-esteem to good lovers.
Goji berry is considered for a superfood for weight loss and is present in almost every diet or exercise program. It contains a very small amount of fat and calories, and at the same time keeps the body full. The fruit provides energy for physical training, promotes easier digestion of food and boosts metabolism up to 5 times. All this leads to much faster fat burning, as well as immediate consumption of carbohydrate energy.
Harm from Goji Berry
There are also some risks to consuming Goji berry. If you are sensitive to plants of the potato family (Solanaceae), which include potatoes, tomatoes and peppers, it is better to avoid eating otherwise useful fruits. If you are prone to diarrhea, gas and bloating or your current condition is also not good, you should not eat lychee fruit.
Not recommended consumption of Goji berry from young children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people allergic to plant products, people with stomach problems and deteriorating health affecting the intestinal flora.
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Ten Reasons To Consume Goji Berry
Goji berry, the superfood that is gaining more and more popularity in our country, must be present in your menu. Its reception brings many benefits. Here they are: Better digestion. The fruit promotes the production of digestive bacteria and probiotics in the digestive tract.
What Is Goji Berry And What Is It Good For
Goji berry is the fruit of the plant Licium barbarum. It grows mainly in Asia and Southeast Europe. It is said to be the food of longevity, beauty, health and youth. The content of vitamins, minerals and amino acids in goji berry is six times higher than in bee pollen.
The Health Properties Of Goji Berry
The Goji berry fruit, also called Lycium, is relatively new in the field of healthy eating. Its popularity is constantly growing precisely because of its healing properties. It is known to cure many different diseases and prevent others. Regular use not only contributes to better health, but also prevents disease.
Side Effects Of Goji Berry
Gaining wide popularity in recent years, the goji berry plant, whose fruits are colored bright orange-red, is considered a "fountain of youth." Along with the health benefits, however, side effects have been found with excessive consumption of these fruits.
Ingredients Of Goji Berry
Goji Berry is a member of the dog grape family, and has much in common with vegetables - potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. The fruits originated in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet and Mongolia and are now found in various parts of the world.
