Goji berries have been a popular addition to medicinal supplements for quite some time now, you might’ve been hearing some of its health benefits. The origin of using these berries as a medicinal plant dates back to ancient China. It is widely used to treat eye, liver, kidney issues.
With its various health benefits, you might be wondering how you can incorporate it into your diet. Read on to know more about goji berries why it might be right for you.
What Are Goji Berries?
Characterised by its bright, orange-red colour, goji berries originated from an evergreen shrub native to China. Also known as wolfberry, these festive berries have been eaten for generations in Asia because it was believed to help one achieve life longevity. The berries have a sweet slightly sour taste to them. They usually come in their dried form, similar to raisins.
Goji berries are a good source of vitamins minerals. It is rich in vitamin C, fibre, iron, vitamin A, zinc, antioxidants. These berries also contain all eight essential amino acids, an ounce of it provides nearly 10 percent of your daily requirement for protein. Considering that it is a fruit, the berries contain a surprising amount of protein. Its fibre content complex sugars reduce your risk for a sudden spike in blood sugar despite being a fruit.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Goji Berries?
Boosted Immune System
Due to its abundant number of vitamins amino acids, goji berries are great in boosting your immune system. This also protects you from the common cold the flu. However, you shouldn’t treat these berries as a replacement for your flu vaccine.
Potential Weight Loss Aid
With its high-fibre content, it’s no wonder that goji berries might help you in keeping your eating habits in check. These berries are great as a light snack to prevent you from overeating during mealtime. Its low-calorie low-sugar option makes them a better choice compared to other dried fruits with high sugar content.
Great Antioxidant
Goji berries have been a popular ingredient in beauty supplement as well because of its high level of antioxidants. The zeaxanthin that gives the goji its bright orange-red colour is indicative of the berry’s rich antioxidant content. Eating the berries on a daily basis helps protect your cells from breaking down when exposed to free radicals, such as smoke radiation.
Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
If you have a sweet tooth, goji berries might be the healthy alternative you’re looking for. These wonder berries can help in lowering your blood sugar, alleviate your resistance to insulin, improve your sugar tolerance, recover cells that help produce insulin. You should note however that before you include goji berries in your diet, you must consult with a doctor first, especially if you’re using medications to manage your blood sugar.
How Do I Use Goji Berries In My Diet?
With the health benefits listed above, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you immediately want to add goji berries to your diet. However, you must always talk to your doctor before you begin eating these berries since you might be allergic to the fruit or it can interact with any medications you are currently taking.
Once you’ve received the go signal from your doctor, you can then purchase goji berries include them in your diet. Most supermarkets sell dried goji berries pre-packaged or in bulk. You can also opt to purchase them fresh. It’s no different from raisins or fresh berries you can mix them into your breakfast cereal or yoghurt. If you want to add sweetness to your main dishes, cooking the berries with lean pork or turkey provides a surprising balance to it. If you prefer eating the berries as it is, two or more servings of the fruit daily will give you the greatest health benefits.
Marketed as a superfood, goji berries indeed live up to its health benefits. While it is more expensive than other fruits, the dense nutritional value of these berries certainly makes it worth the price. Bursting with vitamins minerals, goji berries have the potential of improving your overall well-being.
