Lately you hear everyone banging on about superfoods, foods being advertised as miracle foods with amazing benefits. Goji Berries are on that huge lit of superfoods so lets find out if they are actually beneficial from a health and fitness view.
Believe it or not but there is no actual scientific definition of a superfood, the term superfood is just a marketing term and is used to describe fruit and vegetables and basically describes food which has benefits above and beyond those gained from the nutrients, generally due to a high content of phytochemicals.
Phytochemicals are constituents of food which may have beneficial properties.
It remains to been seen if these superfoods are actually super but non the less every food on that list has a very good nutritional make up. Even if the term ‘superfood’ is meaningless at least it has encouraged people to try new food, and nutritionally sound food at that.
Now on to goji berries, the more common of the berry is the Tibetan vriety. Goji berries originate from an ancient Chinese medicine, they are believed to enhance the immune system and the way it functions, help eyesight, boost sperm production, protect the liver and improve circulation as well as a few other benefits. Their tatse is sweet and nautral in nature and as with most fruits they can be eaten raw when the fruit is ripe or brewed into tea or even made into a juice.
Nutritionally speaking goji berries are rich in butrients containing high levels of Vitamin C, B1, B2 and other minerals and vitamins. They also contain amino acids and anti oxidants.
Goji berries are being marketed as the World’s most powerful anti-aging food; though I’m not quite sure how this is assessed. Perpetrated positives include a benefit
to complexion and enhanced beauty. I’m guessing you’re as sceptical as I am!
So to sum up the goji berry I would say include them in your diet for variety and as one of your fruit and veg servings whenever you feel like a change.
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