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DISCLAIMER: The following is supplied for information purposes only. Statements about products and health conditions have not been evaluated by the South African Medical Council and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition – please refer medical problems to your registered medical practitioner.
INTRODUCTION
As the old saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, similarly it can be said for a little red berry called Goji or Wolf Berry from China. It provides a rich source of nutrition especially relevant for today’s modern lifestyle with its additional pressures and stresses.
Historically, Goji has been used in China as traditional medicine for as long as 5 thousand years and is believed to be one of the reasons for the good health and longevity of the Chinese people. In Ningxia Province, a recent census revealed that the area has 400% more people living to 100 years than in any other region in China. The local residents of Ningxia admit that the reason for their longevity is due to their consumption of the goji berry.
Historically, Goji has been used in China as traditional medicine for as long as 5 thousand years and is believed to be one of the reasons for the good health and longevity of the Chinese people. In Ningxia Province, a recent census revealed that the area has 400% more people living to 100 years than in any other region in China. The local residents of Ningxia admit that the reason for their longevity is due to their consumption of the goji berry.
Goji berry is found mainly in China, India and the Himalaya regions. It is cultivated extensively in China in the Ningxia Province, North Central China on large plantations as well as in the Chinese regions of Xinjiang Uyghur Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Hebei. The production of Goji, in the Ningxia region, is strictly regulated according to required international health and environmental standards. Traditional medicine in China is only made from the goji that is grown in the Ningxia region.
Goji berry is known in the wellness industry as a "super fruit" because of its dynamic and rich nutrient content that provides diverse life and health promoting properties. It is also commonly known for its antioxidant, anti-aging, immune support and anti-cancer properties and has been used more recently by professional athletes because of its adaptogen qualities.
Goji can be consumed as dried fruit, juice, tea made from the dried berries or as capsules. Dried berries can be soaked in water and added to cereals, cakes, salads, smoothies, etc.
Nutrient content
Goji berries contain Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides, Phyto-nutrients, Antioxidents, Protein, 18 Amino acids (including the 8 essential Amino acids required to build protein), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Carotenoids (Beta-carotene and Zeaxanthin), 21 Trace minerals (including Zinc, Calcium, Potassium, Selenium and Germanium), Essential Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, Anti-flammatory agents and various other natural compounds.
Nutrient Information per 100 g Ningxia Goji Berry
Goji can be consumed as dried fruit, juice, tea made from the dried berries or as capsules. Dried berries can be soaked in water and added to cereals, cakes, salads, smoothies, etc.
Nutrient content
Goji berries contain Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides, Phyto-nutrients, Antioxidents, Protein, 18 Amino acids (including the 8 essential Amino acids required to build protein), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Carotenoids (Beta-carotene and Zeaxanthin), 21 Trace minerals (including Zinc, Calcium, Potassium, Selenium and Germanium), Essential Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, Anti-flammatory agents and various other natural compounds.
Nutrient Information per 100 g Ningxia Goji Berry
Item | Value |
Orac units* Glycemic index Energy (Kcals) | 25300 29 343 |
SUMMARY OF NUTRIENT TERMS
Polysaccharides
The bulk of Goji Booster capsules is made of 40% Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides ("LBP"), a family of complex carbohydrates that bind to protein to form "master molecules" that defend the body against illness, pollutants and free radicals. These molecules control many of the body's most important biochemical systems. LPB enhances the body's immunity system to provide resistance to disease and viral infections.
Polysaccharides
The bulk of Goji Booster capsules is made of 40% Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides ("LBP"), a family of complex carbohydrates that bind to protein to form "master molecules" that defend the body against illness, pollutants and free radicals. These molecules control many of the body's most important biochemical systems. LPB enhances the body's immunity system to provide resistance to disease and viral infections.
Antioxidents
Antioxidents are substances in foods such as beta-carotene that help prevent or reduce the formation of damaging chemicals in the body called free radicals. Free radicals cause damage to cells through a process known as oxidation and over time, such damage can lead to anti-aging and a variety of diseases. Beta-carotene's antioxident properties make it valuable in protecting DNA and preventing and reversing cancerous conditions affecting the blood, breast, mucous membrances, throat, mouth, stomach, prostate, colon, cervix and bladder.
- ORAC Scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)
The ORAC scale developed by Tufts University, Boston, measures the ORAC value of the antioxidant level in different foods. According to the scale, 100 g of fresh Goji berry measures 25300 Orac units. When compared to other foods rich in antioxidents, Goji surpasses most of them as depicted in the chart below.
Why do Professional Athletes use Goji?
The Goji berry tree is an adaptogen plant according to herbalists. Goji has being been used by the Russian and Chinese Olympic swimming teams because it provides the athletes with energy, strength, endurance, stamina, lean muscle mass, quicker workout and injury recovery. It also improves reflex responses, reaction time, mental alertness, perception and motor co-ordination. Goji does not contain harmful or banned substances. Adaptogens also help to balance the endocrine hormones and the immune system and helps the body to adapt to stress and change.
Phyto-chemicals
Phyto-chemicals/nutrients occur naturally in plants and are chemical compounds such as Beta-carotene. Laboratory studies indicate that phyto-chemicals in fruits and vegatables may reduce the risk of cancer, possibly due to dietary fibers, polyphonol antioxidents and anti-inflammatory substances.
Adding Goji Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides to your diet can provide a number of benefits. Tests have shown that with relevant medication and treatment Goji LBP can be used to assist with the following.
- To increase energy levels.
- To relieve stress, fatigue and anxiety.
- To strengthen muscles and bones.
- To build lean muscle mass.
- To stimulate the growth of Human Growth Hormone.
- To increase strength, stamina, endurance, reflex responses,
reaction time and motor co-ordination.
- To balance and reduce blood sugar levels (non-insulin dependent
diabetes).
- To act as and anti-inflammatory.
- To combat auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritus,
lupus, chrohn's disease, fibromyalgia and psoriasis.
- To promote the healing of wounds.
- To improve overall brain functions, such as memory, mental
alertness, perception and attention span.
- To enhance the prevention and treatment of senility and
alzheimer's disease.
- To defend against premature aging, fighting free radical
damage throughout the body.
- To strengthen and regulate the immune system and improve
resistance to disease.
- To assist with the treatment of HIV/AIDS, as an immune
system enhancer.
- To build strong blood cells, enhancing the production of red
and white blood cells and platelets and helps in the
prevention and treatment of leukemia.
- To help in the prevention of cancer including metastasis
of cancer of the colon, lung, liver, kidney, breast and/or cervix.
- To enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
- To reduce and eliminate tumors.
- To reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
- To improve libido and fertility.
- To improve eyesight and combat against diabetic retinopathy,
macular degeneration and cataracts.
- To improve the functioning of the liver and to treat Hepatitus B.
- To promote normal kidney function.
- To relieve gastric intestinal disorders.
- To treat menopausal symptoms.
- To relieve menstruation problems.
- To promote weight loss.
- To relieve insomnia, headaches and improve sleep.
- To promote longevity and good health.
- To resist allergies.
- To relieve depression. Goji is called the "Happy Berry" in China.
- To increase calcium absorption.
Goji Research Studies
The United States of America's National Library of Medicine has documented numerous independent medical research tests on Goji Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides.
This research may be found at the following website address:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed and Search for "lycium barbarum".
