GOJI BERRY

What is Goji Berry?

The Goji berries are often known as wolfberries and they are native to Asia.

 are very tiny red in color and packed with antioxidants also it shows powerful medicinal properties.

The not only add a pop of color in your plate but they are really great and also full of flavor which is delicious in taste.

You can buy Goji  berries in both powdered or dried form. In Addition, they are added with many supplements and also juice blends. Also They are added to variety of food recepies.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTON-

SCIENTIFIC NAME- Lycium barbarum 

FAMILY- Solanaceae 

COMMON NAME- Goji berry, Gajju berry, Wolfberry, Chinese Wolfberry,

 Chinese boxthorn, Himalayan goji, Tibetan goji, mede berry, barbary matrimony vine, matrimony vine.

It is a deciduous woody shrub.

Height of the Shrub– It ranges from 1 to 3 metres (i.e. 3 ft 3 in to 9 ft 10 in) high. The shrub has weak arching branches, and the side branches are often reduced to short and leafless spines.

Leaves- It forms on the shoot mostly in an alternating arrangement or in bundles of up to 3.Green in color, scarcely fleshy when fresh, usually lanceolate or spearhead- shapes, sometimes they are with rounded tips.

Length of Clustered leaves are up to 25 mm in length; the single alternate leaves are up to 55 mm long. 

The flowers–  grows in groups of 1 to 3  in the leaf axils, with pedicles 6–15 mm in length. The calyx, eventually ruptured by the growing berry, is a whitish tube crowned by 5 or 6 radial triangular sepals, shorter than the tube, 10–12 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, sometimes 2–lipped, strongly curved.

Sepals –whitish on lower side or facing towards the branch and deep mauve in the top.

The pistil is 8 to 11.5 mm long. The Anthers are longitudinally dehiscent.

Fruit- It is bright orange-red, ellipsoid berry 1to 2cm(0.39 to 0.79 inch) in diameter.

 The calyx which is fruiting is split deeply once or twice. The number of seeds in each berry varies widely based on cultivator.

Fruit size-  ranging from 10 to 60. 

Seeds – 2 mm long, 1 mm wide, yellowish, compressed with a curved embryo.

How is it been Used?

It is used Traditionally as an Asian Cuisine. In case of Young wolfberry the leaves and shoots are harvested commercially as a leaf vegetable.

In the early 21st century- the dried goji berry has been marketed as a health Food or for healthy diet. They were also included in many snack foods, seed oil, ground wolf berry seeds and food supplements.

GOJI BERRY ARE HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS-

These berries are enriched with Protein, Fat, Carbs, Fiber, Sugar, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, Zinc, Thymine, Copper, good Iron Content, also enriched with Antioxidants.

• It helps to reduce the inflammation and also protects against chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. 

MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF GOJI BERRY-

• ANTIOXIDANTS- They are enriched with antioxidants and thus protects your body from harmful free- radicals.
• ANTIAGEING BENEFITS-  According to some studies these berries helps to delay the ageing process and also 
• protects them against aging caused by DNA damage.

EYE PROTECTION-  It protects your eyes and believed to protect against age- related eye diseases. They contains high levels of healthy antioxidants, especially the zeaxanthin.

These antioxidants can also stop damage caused by:

• UV light
• free radicals
• oxidative stress.

It Provides immune system support-

They contains healthy antioxidants. They are are known for their immune-boosting qualities and their ability to fight harmful free radicals and inflammation.

These berries contain very large amounts of Vitamins  A and C, Vitamins A and C are vital for building immunity and preventing illnesses, ranging from the common cold to cancer

It Protects against cancer

High levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids, that are responsible for  up fighting cancer cells. These antioxidants slows down the growth of tumor, reduces inflammation, and help to remove harmful substances from the body.

According to one research in animals it was concluded that these berries may inhibit tumor growth and boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

Promotes healthy and glowing skin

These Berries contain beta-carotene, which is an essential plant phytochemical. It is well known for its ability to promote healthy skin.

Beta-carotene is used as an ingredient in skin creams that helps to improve skin health, Reduce skin irritation, manage the effects of the sun, manage the impact of aging

It Stabilizes blood sugar

These berries may be helpful in controlling the release of sugar into the blood.

One research shows that these berries balance insulin and glucose levels in the blood thus Good choice for Diabetics.

In the same study it was found that it helped to increase HDL Levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.HDL is known as good cholesterol.

It Improves depression, anxiety and Sleeplessness.

According to some studies it is found that drinking goji berry juice could improve your energy levels, changes your mood, and improves digestive health.