Goji berry­“King of the Berries”

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Goji berry­“King of the Berries”

 

Goji berry may provide anti-aging, immune-stimulating,

glucose regulatory, and liver protective

effects.Also known as Lycium barbarum fruit,

goji berry grows on a bush and is native to northwestern China. The

oblong-shaped berries are bright red and contain 20-40 tiny seeds, and

can be eaten raw, or made into a juice or wine, brewed for tea, or

prepared as a tincture. But it’s the extracted phytochemicals used in

nutritional supplements that provide the most potent health

benefits.

Goji berry has been used in Traditional (TCM) for

thousands of years as a health tonic to promote overall health and

healthy eyesight, strengthen the immune system, protect the liver,

improve circulation and sperm production, and to enhance sexual

performance. It has also been used as a remedy for diabetes, anemia,

tinnitus, and lung diseases.

In TCM terms, goji berries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, they

act on the liver, lung, and kidney channels and enhance “chi” or life

force. Goji berry continues to be a revered and popular health tonic in

China. In fact, in 1983 the Ministry of the Public Health of China

approved goji berry to be marketed as a botanical medicine.

Goji berry’s important phytochemicals:

 

Polysaccharides are long-chain sugar molecules

and are a distinguishing characteristic of goji berry. They are a primary

source of dietary fiber in the intestinal system, and once they are

metabolized polysaccharides:

 

support and maintain the health of the colonic mucosal lining lower pH and reduce colon cancer risk enhance mineral uptake stabilize blood glucose levels stimulate the immune system offer antioxidant protection

 

Zeaxanthin, an antioxidant in the carotenoid family­a group of

naturally occurring, fat-soluble pigments found in plants that play a key

role in our immune system support­are abundantly found in goji berry.

Zeaxanthin is a powerful vision protector that accumulates in the macula,

the prominent, bright yellow spot in the center of the retina that allows

you to clearly distinguish fine detail. The concentration of zeaxanthin

in the center of the macula is about 85 times greater than its

concentration in the periphery. Consequently, many researchers

believe zeaxanthin (and lutein, another carotenoid) may be a potent

protectant against macular degeneration

 

1-6, and may retard aging of the lens in preventing cataracts from

forming.

7,8 So, vision support is another one of goji berry’s many

health benefits.

Beta-carotene is a carotenoid pigment in orange-red foods like

goji berry, pumpkins, carrots, and salmon. It is important for the

synthesis of vitamin A (a fat-soluble nutrient and antioxidant that is

essential for normal growth), vision, cell structure, bones and teeth,

and healthy skin. Goji berry’s beta-carotene content is among the highest

for edible plants.

Scientific researchMost of the

research on goji berries over the past 30 years has come out of China,

but international awareness about its health benefits is

growing.

Goji berry supports cardiovascular

healthIn the book Discovery of the Ultimate

Superfood, the authors document the science behind goji berry and

list 67 medical studies showing how goji berry supports healthy heart

function.

9 A Taiwanese study of the antioxidant activity of goji berry and two

other Chinese herbs found goji berry to be the strongest inhibitor of

lipid peroxidation (a major factor in cardiovascular disease) in animal

models.

10

Reduces blood glucose and lipids in animal

modelsAfter three weeks of eating a diet

supplemented with goji berry, laboratory animals with non-insulin

dependent diabetes II showed a significant decrease in weight,

cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels, leading the researchers

to conclude that goji berry may be helpful in improving insulin

resistance.

11

Another study found that goji berry contains potent antioxidants that

reduced blood glucose levels, and total cholesterol and triglyceride

concentrations in rabbits, while increasing high-density lipoprotein

cholesterol (HDL)­“good cholesterol” levels after 10 days of

treatment.

12

Increases immunityIn a 1988 report

published by the State Scientific and Technological Commission of China,

researchers discovered that after eating 50 grams of goji berry, human

volunteers showed an increase in white blood cell count and a 75 percent

increase in the antibody immunoglobulin A (lgA). In a more recent

animal study, goji berry polysaccharides stimulated production of

interleukin-2, a hormone-like substance that stimulates the growth of

blood cells important to the immune system, which protect against cancer

cells and microbial

invasion.

13

Protects against DNA damageOne of the

most amazing things about this berry is that it has been shown to

actually protect against DNA damage and reduce DNA damage that has

already occurred in animals … which means it may very well counteract

aging. Although studies haven’t been done yet on humans, the

potential is tremendous.

A recent study at the Fudan University in Shanghai, China, found that

when goji berry polysaccharides were given to laboratory animals with DNA

damage and non-insulin dependent diabetes, the animals showed a decrease

in blood glucose levels and an increase in serum levels of superoxide

dismutase (SOD)­an important antioxidant. Additionally, goji berry

decreased DNA damage, possibly by decreasing oxidative stress levels,

leading the researchers to theorize that goji berry extract

supplementation may prevent the development of complications or even the

tendency for diabetic animals to develop other health

problems.

14

Protects testicle cells in animal

studyAnother animal study at the same university

found that goji berry polysaccharides also protected against DNA damage

in testicle cells that were pre-treated with goji berry and then exposed

to hydrogen

peroxide.

15 This study could be of particular interest to men who have

fertility issues.

Supports brain healthAlzheimer’s

disease is predicted to become an epidemic for Baby Boomers, and there

are currently about 70,000 scientists working around the world to find a

cure. In a recent study at the University of Hong Kong, researchers

theorized that since goji berry extract has anti-aging effects, it

probably also has neuroprotective effects against toxins in

neurodegenerative diseases, namely Alzheimer’s disease. They were right.

Goji berry extract protected the brain neurons of laboratory animals from

the toxic effects of beta amyloid protein­a culprit in Alzheimer’s

disease. The researchers concluded that studies on anti-aging herbal

medicine like goji berry might open up a new therapeutic window for the

prevention of Alzheimer’s

disease.

16

Inhibits cancer growthThousands of

studies have been done using a variety of dietary supplements, with most

of them on animals. A clinical trial done in China in 1994 on goji berry

showed very promising results.

Seventy-nine advanced cancer patients were treated with LAK/IL-2 (a

cancer drug) combined with goji berry. Initial results indicated that

regression of the cancer was achieved in patients with malignant

melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, lung cancer,

nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and malignant hydrothorax. The response rate of

patients treated with LAK/IL-2 plus goji berry was 40.9%, while that of

the patients treated with just LAK/IL-2 was 16.1% (P<0.05). The

remission period in the patients treated with LAK/IL-2 plus goji berry

also lasted significantly longer. The results indicate that goji berry

could be useful as an adjuvant (an agent added to another drug to enhance

its medical effectiveness) in the treatment of

cancer.

17

In a more recent in vitro study, goji berry inhibited the growth of human

leukemia

cells.

18

Protects the liverGoji berry is a

potent hepatoprotective, or liver protector.

 

One study discovered that goji berry helps counteract carbon

tetrachloride toxicity in the

liver.

19

A goji berry compound called cerebrosides­a combination of sugar and

fat (glycolipids)­was shown to protect liver cells from a toxic

dry-cleaning chemical better than the well-known liver protectant milk

thistle.

 

20

Pyroles, another hepatoprotective compound in goji berry, are unusual

molecules that have a nitrogen atom in their central ring and were found

to outperform goji berry cerebrosides in protecting the liver.

 

21

Drug contraindicationIt should be

noted that in a study of herbal medicines on pharmaceutical drugs, goji

berry was found to increase the anti-coagulation effect of

warfarin.

22 Therefore, persons on anti-coagulant therapy should only use

goji berry under medical supervision.

ConclusionBased on scientific

studies, we now know that goji berry’s unique polysaccharides provide

potent antioxidative effects and anti-tumor, immune-stimulatory, and

cytoprotective benefits. We’re bound to learn more in the near future

about the physiological effects that the “King of the Berries” provides.

So take advantage of the modern research and ancient wisdom of China,

now. After all, the Chinese have been using goji berry for thousands of

years. Isn’t it time that you tried it?

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Abstract

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Abstract

 

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Abstract

 

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Abstract

 

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Abstract