Goji Berries
For a few thousand years, goji berries have been an important part of Chinese medicine and that of other Asian traditions as well. Traditional Chinese cuisine feature goji, also known as wolfberries, in rice congee or with other vegetables in restorative soups and mixed with various flowers to create herbal teas. The goji berry is growing in popularity due to its health benefits. During the past few years, the it has been included in many new products throughout the world. Its most popular form of consumption now-a-days is as a dried fruit snack added to granola bars or eaten alone. Common exports of wolfberries range from dried berries and berry juice to powders made from the pulp and juice. Marketing is spreading in the west and touts the health benefits of the goji berry. Vitamins, Minerals and Phytochemical Components The goji berry contains levels of vitamin C that can only be rivaled by citrus fruits and strawberries in addition to riboflavin (vitamin B2), calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and selenium. It is full of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and dietary fiber as well as numerous phytochemicals and nutrients. Phytochemicals such as beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and polysaccharides can be found in the wolfberry. Some of the content of the phytochemicals vary between production regions, thereby creating discrepancies in many studies of the goji plant. This points leads to the difficulty faced in measuring the health benefits of the goji plant. However, the only real dilemma that scientists are currently facing with the goji plant is whether it is healthy or extremely healthy. Medicinal Uses Based on Scientific Studies Coming Soon
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