Goji Berries - apparently most nutritious

[ugly duckling]

Goji berries are a very common addition to soups/broths (for food and medicinally) in chinese culture. In a large pot (2-3 liters), one would add between 5 to a handful of these berries. They add a bit of flavor to the broth and are considered an eye tonic. I don't think it is ever considered a main "herb" but rather a harmonizing one. My grandmother always used them in soup and I have to say I've never seen any of my chinese family or friends just pop them in their mouths and eat them just so. They are always cooked.

 

[Erna]

I was wondering where the Chinese were on this issue. Thanks...'ugly duckling'...your forum name... :(

I'm still undecided on this though, because my 2 nutrition sources that I really trust (_www.globalhealingcenter.com & _www.thebestdayever.com), are still singing its praises. Maybe the 'middle man' is to blame - anything for a buck - corrupting the whole thing.

 

[Oxajil]

Thanks...'ugly duckling'...your forum name... :(

off-topic, but here is something that Laura once said that made me think otherwise:

Remember the fate of the "ugly duckling"... he was really a lovely swan. To ducks only, he was ugly. Swans know their own.

:)

 

[Masamune]

I'm still undecided on this though, because my 2 nutrition sources that I really trust (_www.globalhealingcenter.com & _www.thebestdayever.com), are still singing its praises. Maybe the 'middle man' is to blame - anything for a buck - corrupting the whole thing.

Hi E, I am wondering, what are you undecided about with goji berries? Do you think they are not healthy? From what I have seen on the thread the downsides are that some people do not like them and have not had any extraordinary experience with them. And also some guy has exaggerated the health claims associated with goji in order to make money on his product.

From what I understand there is a long history of use and health benefits and this fruit has been used in chinese medicine for thousands of years as I have quoted above. They are expensive for some reason but so are organic blueberries. A pound of dried goji and a pound of dried organic blueberries are both about $20 I have seen.

I am just curious, I would like to know if there are any downsides to eating goji or if the claims are false also.

 

[tree]

Goji Berries are acutally part of Chinese Herbal Medicine. They certainly have health benefits, but nothing so drastic that is being claimed by those who would make a nice profit from it. Here is the description from "Oriental Materia Medica; A concise guide":

"476. Lycii Fructus (Wolfberry, Kou-Chi-Tzu, Gou-Qi-Zi, [Chinese Characters])

ORIGINS: Kou-chi-tzu is recorded in Shen nung pen tsao ching under the name kou-chi. It derived the name from being shaped like the branches of willow and medlar. Its root bark is called ti-ku-pi. It is the dried fruit of the following members of the Solanaceae family: 1. Lycium chinense MILL. 2. L. barbarum

ESSENCE AND FLAVOR: Sweet, neutral property

CHANNELS ENTERED: Liver & kidney meridians (Acupuncture Meridians)

TRADITIONAL USES: Actions: Supplements the liver and kidneys, promotes sperm and blood, clears vision
Applications: Deficiency of liver and kidney yin, debility of loins and knees, vertigo, excessive tearing, cough due to consumption, diabetes, nocturnal emission

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: The fruit contains betaine, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitaimin B2, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zeaxanthin; th fruit contains physalein and linolein acid.

PHARMACOLOGY:
1. Effect on liver fat: In experiments wiht mice intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride, the aqueous extract slightly inhibits the precipitation of fat in liver cells and promotes regeneration of liver cells. The active constituents are probably the metabolic products of betaine.
2. Hypoglycemia effect: The herb lowers teh level of blood sugar.
3. Hypotensive effect: Intravenous injection of th eaqueous extract into the rabbit's ear causes a dramatic decrease in blood pressure and also stimulates breathing.

DOSAGE: 6 TO 18g"

This herb/berry is used commonly in many chinese formulas that are quite effective for various health complaints (they also use the bark of the plant). As a food source, my clinical experience would suggest that this would not produce any immediate or lasting health benefits above or beyond those of other commonly healthy foods. Also, one herb is not right for every person. Except for teh effects of the sugar, there shouldn't be any negative side effects.
I did have the opportunity to try wolfberries fresh off the bush while working in a Chinese Herbal garden at my University. Those were incredibly delightful to eat...a small sweet treasure. They are very delicate berries, so I can't imagine its easy to come by these fresh unless you are growing the plant yourself.

Since they are a bit high in sugar, I would suggest adding them to meals...salads, soups, oatmeal, rice porridge (congee).

Tree

 

[Erna]

[quote author=Masamune]

Hi E, I am wondering, what are you undecided about with goji berries? Do you think they are not healthy?

[/quote]

No I was never worried about it being 'unhealthy'. Naturally I won't touch the juice again after anothermagyar's post. They just made such a hype about it in the beginning saying a handful of Goji berries contains 500 times more vitamin C than an orange and crazy claims like that. A lot of nutritionists still place Goji in the 'super-foods' category, but I think the 'must have it, otherwise you die' approach was a bit unnecessary, to say the least...

I don't like dried fruit, I like fresh fruit. So firstly it's expensive, and secondly I can only get it dried. Dried fruit is silly for me, because one of the biggest advantages of fresh fruit is the moisture/liquid/water it contains. Very good for the body and for metabolism. I prefer eating fresh seasonal fruit from my region nowadays, and I try not to be such a sucker for these 'very' convincing sales pitches! :P