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HT Premium. Elections HT Insight. My Account. Sign in. Goji berries, which have the scientific name Lycium barbarum , grow on a type of boxthorn plant that belongs to the Solanaceae plant family. This plant family also includes other fruits and veggies like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers.

Two primary types of goji berry plants are grown today: L. chinense is grown in the south of China, while L. barbarum is grown in the north. The medicinal use of goji berries in Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM dates back to at least B. Besides the goji berry fruit, other parts of the goji plant too — including the flower, leaf, seed and root bark — have long been praised for their benefits.

As a surprisingly high-protein snack , dried goji berry benefits also offer a good dose of fiber, over 20 different vitamins and minerals, and of course, a wealth of antioxidants.

Different sources claim that goji berry benefits include varying degrees of nutrients. Below is a range of the vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals present in goji berries. Here are goji berry nutrition facts for 28 grams of dried goji berries five tablespoons , according to the U.

Department of Agriculture:. According to Superfoodly , a small serving of dried goji berries has an oxygen radical absorbance capacity ORAC score — which measures the antioxidant value of various foods — of 4, By comparison, an apple has an ORAC score of 2,, raisins a score of 3,, blueberries a score of 4, and pomegranate seeds a score of 4, All are good sources of various antioxidants, but goji berries stand apart due to their amino acids protein , fatty acids and specific antioxidants.

Meanwhile, when you compare goji berries and oranges weight for weight as vitamin C foods , goji berries provide up to times more vitamin C! Related: Top 7 Benefits of Green Tea: The No. Goji berry nutrition benefits include the ability to: Ad. Like most other superfoods, goji berries are an excellent source of antioxidants that help boost the immune system and protect the body from high levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, since they fight free radical damage.

One of the surprising goji berry benefits you might not know about is that each serving has about four grams of protein and 18 different amino acids, plus over 20 other trace minerals, including zinc, iron, phosphorus and riboflavin vitamin B2. Ounce for ounce, goji berries offer more beta-carotene than carrots and more iron than soybeans and spinach, which makes them a great source to help stave off iron deficiency.

Goji berries are similar to other berries — like blueberries and raspberries — in that they supply high levels of antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin A.

These are two nutrients key for building immunity and preventing common illnesses like a cold, plus more serious chronic diseases like cancer or neurodegenerative decline. Of the may antioxidants present in goji berries, carotenoids like zeaxanthin and precursors to vitamin C are the most extensively researched.

High levels of these compounds give gojis a reputation for battling cancerous cells, fighting tumor growth, decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels and detoxifying the body of harmful toxins.

Goji berry benefits also extend to other parts of the body thanks to their polysaccharides and glycoconjugate compounds that promote unique bioactive immunomodulating, anti-tumor and antioxidant activities in the brain, liver, reproductive organs and digestive tract.

Gojis are also reported to have anti-aging properties and show anti-tumor activities against various types of skin cancer cells by inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis.

Similar to the benefits you get from eating other berries, goji berries are loaded with beta-carotene a pigment found in plants and fruits , which helps promote healthy skin and even acts like a natural skin cancer treatment. In an animal study done by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, drinking 5 percent goji berry juice supplied antioxidant activity that offered significant protection against skin disorders and lipid peroxidation of UV light damage.

Two known endogenous skin antioxidants are present in goji berries, heme oxygenase-1 and metallothionein, which were found to be involved in the photo-immune protection.

The results show that drinking goji berry juice increases protection against free radical damage from the sun. Gojis provide additional photoprotection for people who are susceptible to skin cancer and other skin disorders. Goji berry benefits also include the ability to protect eyes from age-related diseases like macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older adults.

Goji berries are a natural treatment for macular degeneration and beneficial for vision because of their high levels of antioxidants especially zeaxanthin , which can help stop damage from UV light exposure, free radicals and other forms of oxidative stress.

Especially useful for people with diabetes, goji berries benefits also help control the release of sugar into the bloodstream, which prevents spikes and dips due to problems balancing glucose levels. Evidence shows that gojis exhibit significant hypoglycemic effects and insulin-sensitizing activity by increasing glucose responsiveness.

As part of a healthy diet, a natural diabetes remedy and a way to increase insulin sensitivity, goji berries are one of the best choices for those with trouble balancing blood glucose levels and its effects. Reducing sugar intake and increasing responsiveness to insulin are extremely important for the growing number of diabetes cases in the U.

and other developed nations today, so goji berries make a much better snack alternative and sweetener to high-sugar packaged goods and sugar additives.

Goji berries are believed to offer liver protection and are used along with traditional herbs like licorice root, ganoderma, gynostemma and pentaphylla in many liver cleanses. This makes them a great kidney stone natural remedy as well as a good food for cleansing the blood.

According to a study from the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine , drinking goji berry juice regularly can help increase energy levels and moods and improve digestive health, too.

Try having some gojis as a pre-workout snack to get you going and keep your stamina up. Traditionally, the Chinese believe that goji berry nutrition benefits the reproductive system and offers increased fertility.

Goji berries are believed to increase sperm count and the vitality of sperm.

Did you know Goji berry may act as an anti-ageing agent? Goji berries have proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help rejuvenate skin cells by reducing oxidative stress and free radical damage to the cells. Hsu et al. The mechanism was by increasing the number of lymphocytes a type of white blood cell and immunoglobulin G a type of antibody.

You must keep a healthy lifestyle and take steps to boost your immune system on a daily basis. Feel free to consult a healthcare provider for tips on boosting your immunity. A study by Wawruszak et al. in showed that goji berry extract might be beneficial for breast cancer as it can cause the death of cancer cells apoptosis.

Additionally, a bioactive compound, betaine, in goji berry may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer is a dangerous disease; therefore, you must take proper treatment instead of self-medicating.

Please do not rely on goji berries alone for managing your condition. A study by Silva et al. in showed that goji berry might lower blood glucose levels; therefore, it may be beneficial for diabetes mellitus. In addition, bioactive polysaccharide-protein complex in goji berries may improve insulin resistance due to a bioactive polysaccharide-protein complex.

Insulin is a hormone that may control the amount of sugar in the blood. With insulin resistance, the glucose might not enter the body cells and is built up in the blood.

This may lead to high blood glucose levels. Therefore, you must check your sugar levels regularly and consult your doctor if you have abnormal sugar levels. A study by Pint et al. In showed that polysaccharides in goji berries might protect the heart. Goji berries may regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol levels, thereby protecting the heart.

Therefore, you must consult your doctor if you have any symptoms of heart disease. A study by Azami et al. in showed that goji berries might contain a bioactive compound, zeaxanthin dipalmitate, which may protect the liver. Goji berries may inhibit scarring and thickening of liver tissue and reduce collagen a protein that provides structure to the tissues levels, which may harm the liver when in excess.

Additionally, zeaxanthin dipalmitate in goji berry may lower the levels of liver enzymes like ALT alanine transaminase and AST aspartate aminotransferase. High levels of these liver enzymes may indicate some liver disease. Therefore, you must consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms of liver disease.

Goji berries may contain carotenoids, zeaxanthin and lutein, which are also present in the retina of human eyes. These bioactive compounds may protect the retina from harmful free radicals, blue light damage and dry-eye disease condition where tears are insufficient in lubrication of the eye.

Zeaxanthin in goji berries may be beneficial for eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa a genetic disorder that may cause loss of vision. Goji berries may inhibit macular degeneration part of the retina at the back of the eye. However, you must consult your doctor if you feel any discomfort in your eyes.

In a study by Reeve et al. in , vitamin C, lycopene, lutein, nicotinic acid and polyphenol compounds in goji berry may protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

These compounds may also reduce inflammation caused by sunburns and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Therefore, you must consult your doctor if you see any abnormality on your skin.

A study by Liao et al. in suggested that adding goji berries to yoghurt or Sichuan pickle may maintain the viability of lactic acid bacteria gut bacteria. A delicious berry type favoured among Chinese traditional medicine has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels among the numerous other health benefits.

As blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that prompts cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or storage.

When this happens, the pancreas starts making glucagon, a hormone that signals the liver to start releasing stored sugar. READ MORE: Cancer warning: The type of fish that's 'known to cause cancer' when eaten - pharmacist. Researchers have noted how these berries help to balance insulin and glucose levels in the blood.

Many studies have also found how goji berries positively impact cholesterol levels by increasing HDL. Polysaccharides are the most abundant group of active ingredients of the goji berry helping with type 2 diabetes.

In a study published in the National Library of Health, the antidiabetic efficacy of Polysaccharide in patients with type 2 diabetes was further investigated. In the study a total of 67 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this prospective, randomised, double-blind study.

In order to observe the hypoglycaemic and lipid-lowering activity of polysaccharide in patients with type 2 diabetes after dinner, various tests were conducted between control and polysaccharide intervention groups in a three months.

There is currently an explosion of attention on goji Juice and other goji berry products in the marketplace. There are numerous testimonials stating the miraculous health benefits people have gained from their trials with goji juice and berries ranging from reduced arthritis pain and improved sex drive to dramatic reductions in blood sugar.

Other health benefits include positive impacts on hypertension, high cholesterol, cancer, renal compromise, fever, and eye disorders including blurred vision and macular degeneration. Goji berries are still used in traditional Chinese medicine proving traditional remedies have scientific merit.

This Morning: Type 2 diabetes can be 'devastating' says expert. Type 2 diabetes: Goji berries positively impact insulin levels to help lower blood sugar Image: Getty Images. Goji berries may be helpful in controlling the release of sugar into the blood.

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