FYI...
(Berkeley Wellness)
Goji berries have found their way into juices, energy bars, snacks, and teas. Are they really the greatest of all “superfoods,” as marketers claim?
Marketers, in fact, claim that goji berries are even better for you than other widely promoted exotic fruits like açaí, noni, and mangosteen.
From the Lycium barbarum plant, goji is actually a generic term given to various berries in the Lycium family that grow in Asia, where they’ve been consumed for centuries to supposedly promote good eyesight, agility, and longevity, among other benefits. Wolfberry is another common name for these small, red, tangy berries.
Like many fruits, goji berries are a source of vitamin C, carotenoids, and other potentially healthful plant substances. They are especially rich in zeaxanthin, a carotenoid that plays a role in eye health, but there is no evidence to support the claim that goji berries prevent macular degeneration or cataracts.
Other claims—that goji berries ward off everything from cancer and liver disease to impotence and obesity—are also unproven. (Did you hear about the man who ate goji berries every day and lived to age 252?—a legend that one website says has been verified by modern scholars.)
Nearly as inflated as the health claims is the price of goji juice ($20 to $35 for 32 ounces), which is often sold through multi-level marketing programs. The dried berries are about $1.50 an ounce; fresh berries are rarely available here.
Where’s the proof?
In animal and lab studies, goji berry preparations have been shown to have antioxidant, immune-enhancing, antitumor, neuroprotective (that is, protects brain cells), and other effects. There are only a few published studies in people, however, and they are small and/or of poor quality. Most reports in people are anecdotal and subjective—they think their eyesight has improved when they consume goji, for instance.
According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, there is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of goji berries for any medical condition. Moreover, goji may interact with blood thinners (such as warfarin) and other medications. And as with some other food imports from China, the FDA has issued import alerts on goji berries for having illegal pesticide residues.
Berry thoughtful
There’s nothing magical about goji berries—or “Tibetan” goji berries, in particular. They are healthful, but not the “healthiest food source on the planet.” All berries, including blueberries, are nutritious and high in antioxidants. Go for goji if you like it and can afford it, not in hopes that it will prevent or cure any disease. There’s no evidence to support the use of goji capsules.
(Berkeley Wellness)
Goji berries have found their way into juices, energy bars, snacks, and teas. Are they really the greatest of all “superfoods,” as marketers claim?
Marketers, in fact, claim that goji berries are even better for you than other widely promoted exotic fruits like açaí, noni, and mangosteen.
From the Lycium barbarum plant, goji is actually a generic term given to various berries in the Lycium family that grow in Asia, where they’ve been consumed for centuries to supposedly promote good eyesight, agility, and longevity, among other benefits. Wolfberry is another common name for these small, red, tangy berries.
Like many fruits, goji berries are a source of vitamin C, carotenoids, and other potentially healthful plant substances. They are especially rich in zeaxanthin, a carotenoid that plays a role in eye health, but there is no evidence to support the claim that goji berries prevent macular degeneration or cataracts.
Other claims—that goji berries ward off everything from cancer and liver disease to impotence and obesity—are also unproven. (Did you hear about the man who ate goji berries every day and lived to age 252?—a legend that one website says has been verified by modern scholars.)
Nearly as inflated as the health claims is the price of goji juice ($20 to $35 for 32 ounces), which is often sold through multi-level marketing programs. The dried berries are about $1.50 an ounce; fresh berries are rarely available here.
Where’s the proof?
In animal and lab studies, goji berry preparations have been shown to have antioxidant, immune-enhancing, antitumor, neuroprotective (that is, protects brain cells), and other effects. There are only a few published studies in people, however, and they are small and/or of poor quality. Most reports in people are anecdotal and subjective—they think their eyesight has improved when they consume goji, for instance.
According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, there is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of goji berries for any medical condition. Moreover, goji may interact with blood thinners (such as warfarin) and other medications. And as with some other food imports from China, the FDA has issued import alerts on goji berries for having illegal pesticide residues.
Berry thoughtful
There’s nothing magical about goji berries—or “Tibetan” goji berries, in particular. They are healthful, but not the “healthiest food source on the planet.” All berries, including blueberries, are nutritious and high in antioxidants. Go for goji if you like it and can afford it, not in hopes that it will prevent or cure any disease. There’s no evidence to support the use of goji capsules.
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