Long a staple of Eastern and holistic medicine, the Goji Berries are renowned for its antioxidant properties that provide a variety of benefits including increased energy and heightened immune function.

This natural ingredient weight loss properties have recently seen the popularity of the fruit stateside as well, especially among celebrities in Hollywood with the Goji Berry being featured on many magazines and television programs.

Goji Berry Active have improved the many benefits of the Goji Berry by mixing other natural ingredients to the Goji Berry Active Supplement designed to provide many other health benefits and increase its weight loss capabilities as well.

The result is a complete all-natural supplement designed in pill form that can be taken easily with no powders or several kind of ingredients to measure or mix. Just take as directed to help with immune function, increasing energy levels and weight loss.

 What are they?

Other Names: Lycium barbarum, wolfberry, gou qi zi, Fructus lycii

An evergreen shrub bear the Goji berries and are found in subtropical and temperate regions in Mongolia, China and the Himalayas in Tibet. They are in the nightshade (Solonaceae) family.

Usually Goji berries are placed out to be dried  They are shriveled red berries that look like red raisins.

Why do people use Goji berries?

Goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists in Tibet, India and China to:

• protect the liver

• help eyesight

• improve sexual function and fertility

• strengthen the legs

• boost immune function

• improve circulation

• promote longevity

A lot of antioxidants are found in Goji berries, particularly carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. 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, the decrease in the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be due to increased intake of foods containing zeathanthin. AMD is the number 1 cause of blindness and vision loss in people over the age of 65.

Goji juice has become popular as a health drink in recent years.  Goju juice products are usually marketed by companies that often mention the unsupported claim that a man named Li Qing Yuen lived to be 252 years old after consuming goji berries everyday . Even though there are few published clinical trials in humans, marketers still list extensive health benefits of goji juice.

What research has been done on goji berries?

Goji has only been tested on humans in two published studies. A Chinese study published in 1994 in the Chinese Journal of Oncology 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 lower cholesterol levels, prevent the growth of cancer cells and reduce blood glucose. However, even when taken as a juice or tea, it doesn’t necessary mean that goji will have the same benefits.

Although goji berries like the ones used in traditional Chinese medicine are rather cheap, goji juice is not cheap. Considering that a 32-ounce bottle of goji juice (about an 18-day supply) can {run as high as 50 US dollars~for a price running as high as 50 US dollars for a bottle of 32-ounce of goji juice (about an 18-day supply)}, the evidence isn’t compelling enough at this time to justify the cost of goji juice.

Also, we don’t know the regular goji consumption will cause any side effects, or whether it will interfere with treatments or medications.

What do goji berries taste like?

A mild tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour, that is how we describe the taste of goji berries. They have a similar shape and chewy texture as raisins.

Common forms

In traditional Chinese medicine, goji berries are added to Chinese soup, made into liquid extracts, brewed into a tea or eaten raw  

 

 

Goji juice is also available, usually in 32-ounce bottles.

In North America, goji berries have appeared in snack foods. For example, Trader Joe’s, the health food store distributes a goji berry trail mix.

Possible drug interactions

Anticoagulant drugs (commonly called “blood-thinners”), such as warfarin (Coumadin®) may interact with goji berries. There was a case reported 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 she stopped drinking the goji berry tea.

For more information, visit : “http://www.gojiactive.com/?aid=107690″

 

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