Have you been wondering about the health benefits of goji berries and goji juice? Some claim that goji berries are the next fountain of youth. But what is the goji berry and can it really prevent chronic illness? And do dried goji berries have side effects? Here are answers to your questions.
The goji berry is also called the wolfberry. It is a bright orange-red berry that comes from a shrub that's native to China. In Asia, goji berries have been eaten for generations in the hopes of living longer.
Over time, people have used goji berries to treat many common health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, and age-related eye problems. Goji berries are eaten raw, cooked, or dried (like raisins) and are used in herbal teas, juices, wines, and medicines.
Other Names: Lycium barbarum, wolfberry, gou qi zi, Fructus lycii.
Research shows that eating berries -- like blueberries, acai berries, cranberries, strawberries, and cherries -- offers some definite health benefits. Berries like the goji berry are filled with powerful antioxidants and other compounds that may help prevent cancer and other illnesses, including heart disease. Antioxidants may also boost the immune system and lower cholesterol.
Eating foods high in antioxidants may slow the aging process as well. It does this by minimizing damage from free radicals that injure cells and damage DNA. When a cell's DNA changes, the cell grows abnormally. Antioxidants can take away the destructive power of free radicals. By doing so, antioxidants help reduce the risk of some serious diseases.
Goji berries also have compounds rich in vitamin A that may have anti-aging benefits. These special compounds help boost immune function, protect vision, and may help prevent heart disease.
Some research suggests that goji berry extracts may boost brain health and may protect against age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Other studies using goji berry juice founds benefits in mental well-being, and calmness, athletic performance, happiness, quality of sleep, and feelings of good health. These are preliminary studies that need to be repeated before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
While goji berries are a rich source of antioxidants -- and early research shows a potentially powerful health benefit -- it's still unclear how they stack up against other berries. Researchers also don't know whether goji berry supplements have the same health benefits as the actual berries.
There may be some possible herb-drug interactions with goji berries. If you take warfarin (a blood thinner), you may want to avoid goji berries. Goji berries may also interact with diabetes and blood pressure drugs.
Also, if you have pollen allergies, you may want to stay away from this fruit. However, when eaten in moderation, goji berries appear to be safe. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Diabetes.
High blood pressure.
Fever.
Malaria.
Cancer.
Blood circulation problems.
Dizziness.
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of lycium for these uses.
Lycium is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth. It can cause some side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking lycium during pregnancy is LIKELY UNSAFE. It contains a chemical, betaine, which could cause miscarriage. Don’t use lycium if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Low blood pressure (hypotension): Lycium might lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is already low, taking lycium might make it drop too much.
High blood pressure (hypertension): Lycium might lower blood pressure. It might cause blood pressure to drop too much if you are taking high blood pressure medications.
Diabetes: Lycium root bark might lower blood sugar. It might cause blood sugar to drop too much if you are taking medications for diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar levels carefully.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with LYCIUM
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver.
Lycium might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking lycium along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking lycium talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), diazepam (Valium), zileuton (Zyflo), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with LYCIUM
Lycium bark might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking lycium bark along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with LYCIUM
Lycium seems to decrease blood pressure. Taking lycium along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with LYCIUM
Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Lycium might increase how long warfarin (Coumadin) is in the body, and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
The appropriate dose of lycium depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for lycium. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists in China, Tibet and India to:
protect the liver
help eyesight
strengthen the legs
boost immune function
improve circulation
promote longevity
Goji berries are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. One of zeaxanthin's key roles is to protect the retina of the eye by absorbing blue light and acting as an antioxidant. In fact, increased intake of foods containing zeathanthin may decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 65.
In recent years, goji juice has become popular as a health beverage. Companies marketing goji juice often mention the unsupported claim that a man named Li Qing Yuen consumed goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old. Marketers also list extensive health benefits of goji juice, even though there are few published clinical trials in humans.
Goji has only been tested on humans in two published studies. A Chinese study published in the Chinese Journal of Oncology in 1994 found that 79 people with cancer responded better to treatment when goji was added to their regimen.
There have been several test tube studies that show that goji berry contains antioxidants and that goji extracts may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels. However, that doesn't necessary mean that goji will have the same benefits when taken as a juice or tea.
Goji berries have a mild tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour. They have a similar shape and chewy texture as raisins.
In traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries are eaten raw, brewed into a tea, added to Chinese soups, or made into liquid extracts.
Goji juice is also available, usually in 32-ounce bottles.
Goji berries may interact with anticoagulant drugs (commonly called "blood-thinners"), such as warfarin (Coumadin®). There was one case report published in the journal Annals of Pharmacotherapy of a 61-year old woman who had an increased risk of bleeding, indicated by an elevated international normalized ratio (INR). She had been drinking 3-4 cups daily of goji berry tea. Her blood work returned to normal after discontinuing the goji berry tea.
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The goji berry is a Chinese berry that has been getting attention as an anti aging wonder. Goji berries (also called wolfberries) are used in a wide variety of traditional Chinese medicine preparations. Goji berries have high levels of antioxidants, making them a popular superfruit, and opening the potential of health and anti aging benefits. They also (like most fruit) contain a wide variety of healthy vitamins and minerals. You’ll see goji berries added to everything from chocolate bars to energy drinks.
Personally, I’m not sure what goji berries taste like. I’ve had them in chocolate bars and energy bars and they taste something like a dried cranberry – but mostly because they are small, red and chewy. According to the package labels, there are all sorts of health benefits to goji berries (see below).
In traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries are often made into a tea that is said to work on the liver and other areas of the bodies. In food products, goji berries are often dried and mixed in with the other ingredients. Marketers of goji berries have made the following health claims:
improve the immune system
improve circulation
reduce inflammation
improve vision including macular degeneration
But the real truth is that there is very little evidence of any of these health benefits to drinking goji berry juice or eating foods with goji berries in them.
Other Names:
Baies de Goji, Baies de Lycium, Barberry Matrimony Vine, Chinese Boxthorn, Chinese Wolfberry, Di Gu Pi, Digupi, Épine du Christ, Fructus Lychii Chinensis, Fructus Lycii, Fructus Lycii Berry, Fruit de Lycium, Goji, Goji Berry, Goji Chinois, Goji de l’Himalaya, Goji Juice, Gou Qi Zi, Gouqizi, Jus de Goji, Kuko, Lichi, Licium Barbarum, Litchi, Lychee, Lyciet, Lyciet Commun, Lyciet de Barbarie, Lyciet de Chine, Lycii Berries, Lycii Chinensis, Lycii Fruit, Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, Matrimony Vine, Ning Xia Gou Qi, Wolfberry.
5.0 out of 5 stars By J. Thompson (Orlando, FL USA), October 31, 2007
… They are very tasty and moist. I use about two tablespoons of these every morning in my oatmeal instead of raisins. I've noticed that on the days I eat them, my stomach feels a little more "settled." I'm not sure why that would be, but it's definitely a noticeable difference for me. It also makes the oatmeal a good deal more interesting!...
Highly recommended!
4.0 out of 5 stars By Marcin Jeske "prime number" (Portland, OR United States), February 4, 2008
First, goji berries in general - they are chewy, small, dried up berries with a bittersweet taste that is strange but addictive. Inside are tiny yellow seeds. The after taste reminds me of some asian teas (turns out these berries are used in some tea mixtures) or soy (although that could be because I often eat them in soy milk).
Uses: I throw a tablespoon or two mainly into cereal or on a salad. Occasionally I add them to meat dishes (where you might use raisins) or eat a few berries on their own. Others use them in trail mix and smoothies...
I keep my Goji berries at room temperature (in another review, one guy had pretty bad experience with refrigerating his Gojis) and it seems that my pace of consumption was quick enough that having them in an open plastic bag worked...
5.0 out of 5 stars By booklass "booklass" (San Angelo, TX, United States), November 26, 2007
I got these because I love to carry trail mix with me, and the description of Goji berries made me think they might be like dried persimmons, which I love. They do remind me of that a little, and I like them very much. They have an unusual taste, but are a nice addition to my trail mix.
3.0 out of 5 stars By Bob M, September 2, 2009
I have been eating Goji berries daily for almost two years. I recently purchased two 8 ounce bags... I followed the package instructions after opening the first bag, wrapped it and secured it with a rubber band (it is not resealable)and refrigerated it. When I took the bag out of the refrigerator the next day, the berries were like one solid rock... For the second bag, I will separate the berries first and repack them prior to refrigeration. But in the future, I will buy the more expensive berries.
5.0 out of 5 stars By gar, November 22, 2011
… I bought these goji berries (same brand) in other places before, but those have been almost black, and the goji berries recieved ... are freshier, so the color is red. Never get scamed:...
5.0 out of 5 stars By Cerilyn V. Wall (PA, USA), October 27, 2011
These are slightly sweet and tart. They taste like cherry, raisin, cranberry and strawberry mix together. We were looking for something high in minerals, vitamin and antioxidant and my research lead us to Goji berries. ... Goji berries are so moist and flavorful I don't need to soak them before using them. It adds a great nutrient boost to your shakes and smoothies. Will definitely keep buying.
5.0 out of 5 stars By Riyad Kalla, February 6, 2011
I saw a person mention that he put these in the fridge and they hardened up into a brick... these things are more or less a pack full of raisins. If you did the same thing with raisins or prunes they would harden up into a brick of semi-dried fruit as well.
We just leave ours out in a little bowel on our counter and they are just fine. I mix them with some cashews and grab a handful when I walk by during the day.
I would recommend mixing these with raisins AND nuts actually because Goji berries in general aren't that sweet. They look like little dried cranberries, but they have this earthy/gritty taste that is sort of... blech. Not nasty, just earthy and not-sweet at all.
I mix a handful of mine with raisins or a prune or two to help mask that, cause otherwise it is sort of unpleasant to chew up and swallow a mouthful.
I do have a sweet tooth though and like sweeter things; so if you are not that into sweets and usually fairly sensitive to sweet things (e.g. cake makes you gag) you might think these are sweet enough...
Packaged well and shipped fast, I would definitely order these again.
5.0 out of 5 stars By MED (Arizona), January 14, 2011
Unlike previous Goji berries I've tried, these are moist and delicious! I add a few to my oatmeal, salad or just eat a few plain like nuts or raisins. I've tried them in my juicer, but they didn't do well. Be sure to store them in the refrigerator after you open them (I put them into a sealed plastic bag). I'll definitely order these again - enjoy!