Goji Berries Nutritional Benefits

The southern parts of China, Mongolia, Tibet and the Himalayan regions happen to be the native places of goji berries. These berries have earned their name as one of the most valuable medicinal herbs in the Chinese civilization. The source of these fruits are deciduous woody perennial plants. Also attributed as "wolfberries", these berries, considering their nutritional constituents, provide amazing health benefits and make for effective home remedies for various illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, and age-related eye problems. These berries are consumed in the powdered form or as dried fruits. However, the goji juice is the most popular.

Nutritional Facts

Here is a table which would give you an idea of the nutritional values of these berries. The values mentioned are according to a serving size of 5 tbsp (28.0 g) and the percentage values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrients	Value
Total Fat	1.6 g (2%)
Cholesterol	0 mg (0%)
Sodium	0 mg (0%)
Total carbohydrate	24.0 g (8%)
Dietary fiber	3.0 g (12%)
Sugars	21.0 mg
Protein	1.0 g)
Vitamin A	170%
Vitamin C	20%
Calcium	8%
Iron	12%

Health Benefits

As goji berries are rich in vitamin C, they help boost the immune system thus, building up a defense mechanism against various infections.

People who regularly consume these berries are less susceptible to various skin disorders and also enjoy clearer skin complexion. Not only these berries do good for the skin, but even for the growth of hair, as well.

Goji berries also contain powerful antioxidants and other compounds. Their richness in antioxidants help in limiting the damage inflicted by free radicals in the body. This in turn helps prevent cancer and other illnesses, including heart diseases.

These berries are also believed to possess natural anti-aging properties, which is another remarkable benefit. Making these berries an important part of the diet would thus, keep you looking younger for a longer time.

Vitamins, polysaccharides and antioxidants like beta-carotene also form a part of goji berries health benefits. All such substances aid in maintaining vision and prevent various kinds of eye disorders. Extracts from these berries, according to many studies, have shown to boost the brain's health, thereby preventing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.

As mentioned, goji berries are rich in polysaccharides. These are a class of carbohydrates which help in keeping blood sugar levels at a safe level. These berries are thus, more beneficial for those suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure. Apart from these, there are numerous goji juice benefits that you can derive from this fruit.

Know that there are certain medications which are best when not taken in conjunction with goji berries. These medications are blood thinners, diabetes and blood pressure medicines. Also, in case you are suffering from pollen allergies, then it's better to avoid the consumption of these fruits. Except these few restrictions, goji berries have nothing but good health in store for you and your family.