Goji berries are wild berries from the hills in the Ningxia Region of China. Also known as Wolfberries, Lycium berries and Gou Ji Zi berries, they have been used in Traditional Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese medicine for centuries to nourish yin and improve the functioning of the ‘water element’.
The plants grow like bushes with vines that reach over 15 feet. The berries are never touched by hand as they will oxidize and turn black if touched while fresh. They are shaken onto mats, and then dried in the shade. These berries are grown without pesticides or other chemicals in one of the purest places on earth. Of the many varieties of Lycium, the Tibetan Lycium berry has earned the respect of the great Physicians of Tibet over these many centuries.
The Tibetan variety of Lycium now known as ‘Goji’ is considered to be the Mother of all Lyciums! It grows in very remote unpolluted hills and valleys of Tibet and Mongolia, in soil so rich in nutrients that the berries are exploding with this special nurturing vitality.
Tibetan Goji berries are not Chinese wolfberries and it is not correct to call the Chinese wolfberry ‘Goji’. The ancient Tibetan Lycium berry is a different plant then the Chinese wolfberry and grown in a different country. The nutrient dense energy of the Goji berry has been recognized as having the highest in nutrient content of all the 80 plus varieties of Lycium berries on Earth. Many marketers, both Chinese and Western now often call there wolfberries ‘Goji’ to give them special market importance.
The Goji berry grows in profusion in remote wild areas with vines reaching over twenty feet. The small round red berries are harvested in the late summer by being shaken onto collection trays, then washed, inspected and oven dried at controlled low temperature, then inspected and tested again before packaging.
Every year they are tested for purity and that they are free of any chemical pesticides, sulfur or heavy metals. A handful a day is said to provide the energy to overcome difficult obstacles in healing, promote cheerfulness and brighten the spirit.
They have strong antioxidant, anti-ageing and anticancer properties and are used to boost the immune system, improve hearing, eye-sight, and liver function, maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, strengthen bones and tendons, burn fat, build muscle, increase libido, enhance fertility and reduce morning sickness.
They are a delicious, gentle and soothing tonic fruit that is loaded with available vitality.
Goji berries have the highest content of carotenoids, including beta carotene among all known foods on earth, and can contain up to 500 times more vitamin C than oranges. The fruits also have significant amounts of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin E. They are rich in amino acids and trace 21 trace minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, calcium, germanium, and selenium and phosphorous.
Mature fruits contain about 11 mg or iron per 100 grams, beta-sisterol (an anti-inflammatory agent), linoleic acid (a fatty acid), sesquiterpenoids (cyperone, solavetivone), tetraterpenoids (zeaxanthin, physalin), and betaine (0.1%).
Goji berries contain polysaccharides which fortify the immune system. A polysaccharide found in this fruit has been found to be a powerful secretagogue (a substance that stimulates the secretion of rejuvenative human growth hormone by the pituitary gland).
The Goji berry has traditionally been utilized to nurture the heart, strengthen the immune system, facilitate optimal liver function and treat insomnia. It also increases visual perspicacity and, as a
traditional blood tonic, it has a proud heritage in the treatment of forgetfulness, lethargy and anxiety related to blood and chi deficiencies. Recently the subject of various scientific studies
throughout the world, Goji berries have been found to be effective in increasing white blood cells and depressing the activity of cancer cells.
In studies conducted in countries such as Mongolia, Japan, China and Switzerland, researchers have determined that the Goji berry fruit (as well as an extract from the leaves of the plant) is capable of killing some kinds of cancer cells under laboratory conditions. This is thought to be primarily due to the presence of 124ppm of organic Germanium contained within the berries.
According to Japanese studies, organic Germanium may be useful in the treatment of liver, lung, and uterine, cervical and testicular cancer in combination with other drugs. It would appear that Goji berries, as a consequence of the Germanium as well as other constituents of the plant, are capable of inhibiting the hydrogen ion in the cancer cells, thereby depressing the synthesis of cancerous DNA. Many more studies are yet to be conducted and scrutinized by the medical and scientific communities, but it would appear that in essence the Goji berries might be helping to lower the reproductive capacity of cancerous cells.
It is said in Tibet that eating these ‘Goji’ berries in the morning will make you happy the entire day, with such a practice, eventually you can’t stop smiling.
The taste is not too difficult to describe, some say between a cranberry and a cherry, others say they taste of raspberry and plum, you will have to decide for yourself!
Savior each berry individually or add to hot and cold cereals, blend fruit juice drinks, add a handful to your water bottle and eat them as you drink, use in trail mix, soups, whole fruit and nut bars, baked goods, tea and fruit juice blends.
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January 17, 2011 
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