Qi Zi or gǒuqǐzi is the Chinese names for Goji Berry that is also known by it’s Latin name Lycium Barbarum or as the wolfberry. This berry is the newest super-fruit that is taking the field of healthy living and nutrition by storm. Experts on diet and nutrition are praising the properties of Goji berries in helping people achieve optimal health and longevity. All different kinds of people are focusing their interest to the Goji berry as a tasty way to give them the daily nutrition that their body needs and it is now taking its rightful place next to other health super-foods such as wheat grass. This article will describe the history and background of the Goji berry as well as list the kinds of health benefits that are measured from eating or drinking Goji berry products.
The Goji berry grows naturally across a wide region . From South-Eastern Europe deep into Asia. It is part of the Boxthorn family of plants which also counts potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and chilli members amongst its relations. The medicinal use of the Goji berry stretches back many hundreds of years all the way to ancient Tibet and the surrounding kingdoms in the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau as well as India and South East Asia. But now Western societies have found out about the health benefits of consuming the Goji berry, whether whole or in the form of a juice and it is becoming progressively popular over here.
The Goji berry is traditionally cooked before eaten often together with various meats such as chicken, beef or pork together with other fresh vegetables. It can also be added to soups or boiled in order to create a herbal infusion or tea. There are also various Goji berry drinks such as juices, smoothies and even Goji berry wine and beer. However in the west most people buy them whole and fresh or as a juice or smoothie. Some shocking facts about the health benefits of the Goji berry include .
- The Goji berry contains L-argine, L-glutamine and potassium which helps the human body create more growth hormone which is necessity in helping the body stay young and healthy, promoting lean muscles and to prevent storing excessive fat.
- The Goji berry helps prevent heart disease and inflammation as well as diseases such as glaucoma due to the large amount of antioxidants it contains.
- The Goji berry contains many micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients such as iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, zinc, sodium and many more. This means it is an first-class way to supplement your diet, cut down on processed food and so lose weight easily and in a healthy way.
In addition the Goji berry contains a large amount of the suggested intake of carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fiber since roughly 67% of a Goji berry consists of carbohydrates, about 12% as protein and at last 10% as fat plus 10% as fiber.
Further health benefits of consuming the Goji berry are that it helps protect the liver, helps improve your eye-sight, boosts the immune system, helps to improve your circulation and even has been reported to improve the libido and sexual functioning.
After reading this article you can easily see how all adding this super-fruit to your daily diet will improve your health and well-being in many different ways. So don’t hesitate to get your hands on the Goji berry in whatever form you can find it and experience the marvellous benefits of eating or drinking it.