Guest post by Alexis Bonari
Researchers, physicians, and health enthusiasts across the world tout berries for their antioxidant powers. Of all of them, goji berries are receiving increased spotlight as the fruit with the greatest amount of antioxidants on the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale, which was developed by Tufts University in Boston to measure antioxidant levels in foods.
Does this make the goji berry our new fountain of youth?
What are antioxidants?
In our day to day activities, we are exposed to harmful molecules called free radicals. We come into contact with them by normal body processes like digestion (when we burn sugar for energy), when the body breaks down certain medicines, through pollutants like cigarette smoke, and even through UV skin damage from spending too much time unprotected in the sun.
Antioxidants—such as vitamins C and E, minerals like selenium, flavonoids, and more—scavenge free radicals in your body and protect it from damage. They actually slow the aging process of our bodies by minimizing damage done to your cells and DNA. WebMD says that our best source of antioxidants is from fruits and vegetables and derivative products, like red wine and tea.
What are goji berries?
Goji berries, also called wolfberries, are bright orange-red berries that hail from Asia. In China especially, these berries have been eaten with hopes of increasing longevity. Nowadays, goji berries are sought after to treat ailments from fever to diabetes and prevent heart disease and cancer.
What are the benefits of goji berries?
Eaten raw, cooked, or dried, goji berries stand to give us the biggest antioxidant punch from within the fruit family. Their antioxidants boost our immune systems and even help our chances against various diseases, small and severe: cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, age-related eye problems, Alzheimer’s, and other age-related circumstances. More traditional uses of goji berries (which haven’t yet been backed by scientific research) include lethargy, aching joints, tinnitus, dizziness, cough, and sexual difficulties.
What are myths about goji berries?
Typically, when an ancient folk remedy surfaces to the 21st century, it is swarmed by commercialist sharks, wolfed down, and digested into an over-priced, cure-all remedy—a fountain of youth. Green tea, pomegranate, and many alternative medicines unfortunately undergo the same process. This is not to say these ancient remedies do not work—they do! The consumer, however, must beware of modern industries that not only hawk these products and services with exaggerated claims, but at outrageous prices and in diluted formulas and experiences.
For example, a juice product may use the goji berry as its claim to fame, but a closer look at its list of ingredients will very often show that the entire product contains very little of its flagship ingredient. According to a report on TVNZ, health officials began an inquiry for certain goji juice makers, who claimed in their advertisements that their goji juice drink could cure cancer.
Be wary of miracle drugs and products and scrutinize all labels. If you want the benefits of goji berries, eat them from the grocery store, not from a bottle or pill.
Bio: Alexis Bonari is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching minority scholarship programs as well as beauty school grants. She also writes on health-related topics such as this one whenever she has a chance. In her free time she enjoys doing yoga, cooking with the freshest organic in-season fare, and practicing the art of coupon clipping.
