Who should eat goji berries and why?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

They will improve your vision, reduce weight and give you strength. But side effects can also occur.

Lifehacker analyzed the popular superfood - goji berries - and found out all about their health benefits and harms from a scientific point of view.

Why goji berries are good for you

In ancient China, these red fruits were believed to prolong life. On the modern Internet, there are legends that goji help to effectively lose weight: some lucky people boast of losing up to 23 kilograms a month!

Tellingly, there is some truth in these legends. Here are eight scientifically proven properties of goji berries that make them worth incorporating into your diet.

1. Protect eyesight

Goji berries owe their deep red color to carotenoids - the same substances that make carrots orange. In particular, beta-carotene. Once in the body, it turns into vitamin A. It is critical for vision. If it is not enough, the production of light-sensitive pigments in the eyes deteriorates, which directly affects our ability to see.

From 1 ounce (28 g) of goji berries, you can get Goji Berries (Tibetan) for up to 50% of your daily value for vitamin A.

In addition to beta-carotene, Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action contains a large amount of antioxidants. These substances fight free radicals - molecules with unpaired electrons that damage other molecules in the body. Such malfunctions lead to accelerated aging of organs and tissues, including the eyes.

The consumption of goji berries increases the Goji Berry Effects on Macular Characteristics and Plasma Antioxidant Levels the level of antioxidants and thus stops the development of age-related visual impairment.

Another bonus: there is data An evidence-based update on the pharmacological activities and possible molecular targets of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides. that goji berries reduce the risk of glaucoma, a chronic eye disease that is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.

2. Suspend aging

The antioxidants found in goji berries fight free radicals throughout the body. Thanks to this, age-related changes slow down. This also applies to wrinkles (the skin retains its elasticity and smoothness longer), and more serious disorders: the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, age-related brain dysfunctions and various types of cancer is reduced.

3. Strengthen the immune system

In addition to the antioxidant substances and provitamin A mentioned above, goji berries contain a sufficient amount of vitamin C - about 10% of the daily value in 100 grams.

Vitamins A and C are critical for maintaining a healthy immune system and preventing diseases from colds to cancer.

4. Possibly fighting cancer

Human studies have not yet been conducted. But in an experiment on mice injected with goji berry juice, scientists discovered Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action: such a diet suppresses the growth of malignant tumors and increases the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

5. Normalize blood sugar

In patients with type 2 diabetes, eating goji berries helps the Practical Application of Antidiabetic Efficacy of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes to control the release of glucose into the blood. Also, scientists associate the intake of goji with an increase in the level of "good" cholesterol.

6. Improve depression

So far, serious research has been carried out only on rats. But the experiments look Lycium barbarum L. (goji berry) fruits improve anxiety, depression-like behaviors, and learning performance: the moderating role of sex is very optimistic. Scientists have unequivocally proven that drinking goji berry juice reduces anxiety, improves depression and improves sleep. At least in rodents.

7. Energize

This property of goji berries has already been proven in humans. In one study, A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi, scientists treated volunteers to 120 ml of goji berry juice every day. And they compared their attitude to the control group - people who received a placebo. The results are impressive. By the fifteenth day of the experiment, test subjects who consumed goji juice reported that they:

• feel more energized;
• began to concentrate better on work tasks;
• noted that their minds became sharper;
• improved their athletic performance;
• became calmer, more balanced and satisfied with life.

In the control group, this effect was not observed.

It is important, however, to note here: we are talking about preliminary results. The influence of goji berries on the psychophysical state of people still needs to be verified in larger studies.

8. Helps control weight

Among other things, sweet and sour goji berries are rich in fiber. Once in the stomach, it swells and provides a feeling of fullness - even if you literally ate 2-3 berries. In this way, goji can reduce hunger and prevent overeating. And this is an important factor that helps to control weight.

Who can be harmful to goji berries

Despite the obvious health benefits, goji berries are not a product to be taken uncontrollably. They contain active substances that, for example, can interact with drugs.

Therefore, if you want to try the miracle berry, consult your therapist about this. Make sure to do this 8 Healthy Facts About the Goji Berry if you:

• you are faced with hypoglycemia - a decrease in blood sugar;
• are taking blood thinning medications;
• suffer from low or high blood pressure;
• are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• are allergic to fruits or berries.

A separate important point: there is a lot of provitamin A in goji berries. To prevent overdose, they should not be used with other vitamin supplements. And this, too, should be checked by your doctor.

How and how many goji berries should you eat

As a rule, our berries are sold in dried form. You can eat them just like that. An amount equal to 1 tablespoon per day is generally enough to saturate the body with useful substances.

Here are other popular options to include goji berries in your daily diet:

• add to tea when brewing (and then, of course, eat);
• mix them with yogurt;
• throw in fruit and vegetable salads;
• add to your breakfast cereal.

Considering the energetic effect, eating goji berries is still better in the morning.