Goji Berries, the fruit to eat for breakfast or snack
Did you know that there is a fruit, or rather a berry, which contains more vitamin C from the oranges, more beta-carotene than carrots and more iron from a steak? The goji berry is the preeminent superfood: consumed daily in the West by celebrities who are looking after health them, such as Madonna, Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr. In China, and even more so in Tibet, they are considered an elixir of longevity and have been used in traditional medicine for more than 6000 years as a tonic for the liver and kidneys, to shield the immune system and as a panacea for vision. These anti-aging berries, originally from the Himalayan valleys, are a concentrate of beneficial health nutrients: “This is a low-calorie source of health benefits for the health conscious (only 32 per serving), with a low glycemic index, rich in antioxidants, vitamins such as C, B2, A and minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron.
What are goji berries and what they are used for
The Goji Berry, scientific name Lycium barbarum, is a fruit from the Solanaceae family, such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. This plant is native to Asia, particularly China, Mongolia and Tibet, where it grows in alkaline, mineral-rich soils. Today, however, this precious ‘red diamond’ is also cultivated in certain areas of southern Italy, such as Basilicata, Sicily and Calabria. According to legend, 2000 years ago a doctor visited a village in China where perennials abounded. They had all drunk, it seems, from a well surrounded by goji bushes. The ripe berries fell into the well, creating a natural tea, the the secret of longevity of the locals. This, it seems, is how the legend of these longevity berries was born.
The nutritional properties of goji berries
They contain vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B2 or riboflavin.
They contain minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and selenium.
They are rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin.
They contain all the essential amino acids
They contain “good” fats such as linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.
Benefits of goji berries
They have strong antioxidant properties, protecting cells from oxidative stress and increasing tissue oxygenation.
They contribute to eye health and protect against pathologies such as yellow spot degeneration, thanks to the presence of antioxidants such as zeaxanthin.
Thanks to the content of polysaccharides and vitamins, they support the immune system.
Carotenoids promote healthy and beautiful skin and vitamin A fights acne.
They improve bad cholesterol and blood pressure.
Thanks to amino acids such as L-arginine and L-glutamine, they provide energy, fight fatigue and stress, and improve memory, concentration and mood.
They promote cardiovascular health.
Thanks to fibre and polysaccharides, they balance the intestinal bacterial flora.
