Hollywood’s Newest Star . . . the Goji Berry
Hollywood has at last made a true discovery. Apparently, many superstars have heard about this ancient Tibetan berry that is one of the most nutritionally dense foods on Earth and has a sweet mild cherry– cranberry flavor.
Goji berries contain more than 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges do and are the most abundant source of carotenoids on Earth. (They have more beta-carotene than carrots do.) They contain 18 amino acids and more iron than spinach does and are loaded with many other vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E.
This tiny berry (available as either dried berries or a juice) is a powerful antioxidant, rating 18,500 on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale, a standardized measurement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of the antioxidant potency of foods. (In comparison, blueberries have 2,400 ORAC units and strawberries have 1,540.) Fortunately, the goji berry ranks low on the glycemic scale, which means it will not cause an age-accelerating spike in blood sugar and insulin.
Here are just a few of the major benefits of eating goji berries:
- They stimulate the pituitary gland to release human growth hormone (HGH), which aids in reduction of body fat, helps you sleep, improves memory, and gives you a more youthful appearance.
- They help keep coronary arteries open and functioning smoothly and maintain their strength and integrity. Goji berries also increase the levels of an important blood enzyme that fights against the sticky lipid peroxides that can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis,
and stroke. - They can increase the level of testosterone in the blood, thereby increasing libido in both men and women. According to an old Chinese proverb, “He who travels one thousand kilometers from home should not eat goji!”
- They heighten immune system responses. Research has shown that goji berries’ polysaccharides help enhance and balance the activity of immune cells, including T-cells, cytotoxic T-cells, and the immunoglobulins IgG and IgA.
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