Goji, Lycium barbarum, has long been used as a general energy restoring tonic tea, its leaves and berries have a wide range of benefits from skin rashes to eyesight and diabetes. A tea made from the berries has been known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, help with eyesight, vertigo, menopause complaints, impotency, and help improve liver and kidney function. The bark and root can be used as an antibacterial to control coughs, lower fevers, and control blood pressure and cholesterol as well.
Goji is rich in natural phytonutrients and vitamins such as:
* Polysaccharides
* Zeaxanthins
* Flavonoids
* Carotenoids
* Riboflavin
* Ascorbic acid
* Thiamine
* Nicotinic acid
* Glycocojugates
* monosaccharides
* 17 Amino acids
As you can see Goji is rich in nutrients and traditionally was made into a juice to drink from the berries, this poses a problem in the supplement industry because in order for the juice to be preserved it needs to be pasteurized, pasteurization is heating the juice this could destroy the important nutrients in the berries. Preparing the Goji berry as an extract and standardizing the berries to its polysaccharide fraction (LBP) is much more desirable and all the research has been done on the LBP.
Goji has been shown to impact the immune system in a positive way, boosting production of the immune system proteins IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in vitro. Also, Goji extract has increased the production of lymphocytes an important white blood cell involved in immunity. Feed your body the right nutrients to boost the immune system and your body will fight off cancer and disease.
Every day our bodies produce damaging free radicals that cause oxidative damage to every cell in the body, when these cells are damaged they can go on living replicating them selves causing all sorts of damage and cancer. Goji is high in antioxidants and these antioxidants can help the body’s cells protect its self form free radical oxidative damage. Recent research has suggested that free radical damage to the body can cause premature aging, so consuming quantities of supplements and herbs that protect one from free radical damage can help slow the aging process, it’s by far the fountain of youth supplement but may help one live long and disease free.
Animal research has shown Goji to protect DNA from damage and accelerate the rate at which DNA is produced. Also, Goji protects the liver which makes Goji similar to milk thistle in action. Goji has been shown to be a good adaptogen, helping the body recover from exercise and help the body restore muscle and liver glycogen, this berry could be promising for bodybuilders and the exercise enthusiast.