Goji Berry – Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Goji berries are small red fruits that are full of powerful antioxidants and can be used as medicine. Not only do they add a nice splash of colour to your plate, but they are also tasty and full of flavour.

They have a sweet, slightly sour taste and a bright red colour. For thousands of years, they have been used in traditional medicine. In fact, it is said that they slow the signs of ageing, keep your eyes healthy, and make your liver, kidneys, and lungs stronger.

Goji berries can be bought dried, ground up, or in different juices. You can put them on desserts or mix them into baked goods, smoothies, and other things.

What is goji berry? 

The goji berry, also known as the wolfberry, is a bright orange-red berry that grows on a Chinese shrub. In Asia, people have been eating goji berries for hundreds of years in hopes of living longer.

The name for them in science is Lycium barbarum. Goji berries come from Asia and taste sweet and a little bit sour. They have been used as medicine since the beginning of time. They are important to keep your eyes healthy and slow down the signs of ageing. They also make your liver, kidneys, and lungs stronger.

Varieties of goji berry:

African Boxthorn

Lycium Ferocissimum is the scientific name for these plants. The Latin word for fierce is "ferocissimum." It is called "ferocious" because its branches are full of thorns.

Their home is in Africa. In Africa, they bear fruit, but in Australia, they are used as a fence.

Black Goji Berries

The name for them in science is Lycium Ruthinicum. They are the rarest kinds of Goji berries and can grow to be between 4 and 6 feet tall. They are native to the Northern Himalayas, and growers are starting to like them more and more.

Australian Boxthorn

Their scientific name is Lycium Australe, and the African boxthorn is a close relative. The only difference is that Australians think of African boxthorn as a weed. It likes a climate with fine sand and a lot of clay in the soil.

Arizona Desert-Thorn

The name for them in science is Lycium Exsertum. It is a thick bush.

It grows a lot of green leaves that are about 2 centimetres long and have tiny white hairs all over them.

Desert Pale Thorn

The name for them in science is Lycium Pallidum. They look like small versions of the Arizona Desert-Thorn. Even though they need the same weather as Arizona desert-thorn, they are only half as big. They make one-inch-wide flowers that are the colour of lilacs.

Health benefits of goji berry:

1. Anti-inflammatory

Compounds in goji berries fight inflammation, fungus, and bacteria. The most protein is found in them compared to other fruits. They also have more than 15 times the iron that spinach does. Also, they have a lot of calcium and zinc. Goji powder can be added to smoothies. You can eat them as a snack as well.

A study found that Goji berries are good for your health in general. They help your immune system do its job better. Because of this, it is very good for people with arthritis.

2. It makes hair grow.

When it comes to hair, Goji berries can help in many ways. Research shows that Goji berries have a lot of vitamins A and C. They make it easy for the body to take in iron. Also, vitamin A helps get more blood to the scalp. It also helps you remember things. Vitamin C makes it possible for nutrients to be taken in.

3. Improves mental wellbeing:

 Helps with depression, anxiety, and getting a good night's sleep

Depression and anxiety can be helped by eating goji berries. Also, having one cup of Goji berry juice every day can improve your energy, mood, and digestion. Also, a study shows that it helps people focus and improves how well they do in sports.

It makes your mind clearer and makes you feel more relaxed. Goji juice works right away, and you can drink it every day.

4. Helps the kidneys work better

According to research, goji berries have chemicals that help get rid of toxins and make the kidneys work better. When the kidneys don't work right, waste can build up in the body. By getting rid of free radicals and toxins from the body, these berries make it easier on the kidneys.

When eaten together, Goji berries, fruits, salads, and pulses are a great way to boost your immune system.

5. Regulates Blood Pressure

There are a lot of polyphenols in goji berries. They help the body get rid of free radicals and are very good for people with high blood pressure because of this. A study also found that they contain phytonutrients that help the immune system work better.

Also, because they are antioxidants, they may fix damage to DNA caused by pollution, smoking, and other things. They also help turn vitamin A into something else. So, it would help if you ate berries regularly in moderate amounts.

6. Improves fertility

In Chinese medicine, goji berries are used to help with fertility and IVF success rates. They are superfoods because they have a lot of antioxidants and vitamins A and C. They also have calcium, iron, and amino acids in them.

Goji berries help both men and women have more children. Studies show that they may improve the number and strength of sperm, the desire to have sex, and the way reproductive hormones work. Also, they help the ovaries, improve the quality of eggs, and reduce fatigue, all of which increase sex drive.

Can you use goji berries during pregnancy? 

There isn't enough proof to say what happens to pregnant women who eat Goji berries. Studies point to betaine, a chemical that is often found in them. So, it's better to not have them. They could hurt the health of the foetus, which could lead to problems.

Conclusion: 

Goji berries are small, red fruits that come from China. You can add them to your food to make it taste better, and they can also be used as traditional medicine. They come in five different kinds all over the world. Since they are good for your health, you should include them in your diet.

They help hair grow, reduce inflammation, and help people with depression, anxiety, and poor sleep. They are also good for your kidneys, can treat high blood pressure, and can help you get pregnant. You can use them to make interesting recipes. But some people should be careful about eating them. For example, people who are allergic to certain fruits or who have diabetes or high blood pressure should be careful. Women who are pregnant shouldn't eat them because they could hurt the development of the baby. So, with the pros and cons in mind, you should find a balance in your diet to get the most out of it.