Ammon – The benefits of goji berries
Nutrient Content of Goji Berries
Here is a mention of some of the nutrients found in goji berries:
A rich source of antioxidants: Goji berries contain healthy antioxidants known for their ability to boost the immune system, reduce the risk of infections and expose the body to harmful free radicals.
A rich source of protein: Goji berries contain 8 essential amino acids (Essential amino acids) that the body cannot manufacture on its own, and therefore must be obtained through food, and are supplied in a portion ; That is to say the equivalent of about 28 grams of goji berries, or about 10% of the daily nutritional value (in English: daily value) of protein, which is considered a high percentage compared to the protein content of fruits in general.
A source of many vitamins and minerals: Goji berries are a rich source of vitamin C. Where each 28 grams of fresh goji berries provides 150 milligrams of this vitamin; Equivalent to 250% of the daily nutritional value of vitamin C. In addition, this berry is a source of B vitamins, manganese, magnesium, copper and selenium.
The benefits of goji berries according to the degree of effectiveness
Evidence of its effectiveness is insufficient.
Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes: A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in 2015 found that consumption of goji berries containing polysaccharides by people with type 2 diabetes significantly reduced blood sugar levels, and it also increased insulin levels and beneficial effects. cholesterol (in English: HDL cholesterol) in people with type 2 diabetes, but it should be noted that the skin of the roots of goji berries can significantly reduce blood sugar if taken with diabetes medications, and therefore blood sugar levels should be monitored when consumed.
Contribute to weight loss: A preliminary study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2011 indicated that the consumption of goji berry juice increases the metabolic rate in the body, and significantly reduces waist circumference in women and men who do not suffer from any health problem.
Help improve public health: Recent research has shown that drinking goji berry juice for 30 days improves many quality of life indicators. Such as: sleep quality, mental functions, energy, bowel regularity, mood and feelings of contentment.
Help reduce cancer risk: A study published in the Chinese Journal of Oncology found that consuming goji berries, which contain polysaccharides, may help reduce the number of cancer cells in cancer patients.
Help lower blood pressure: A preliminary study in mice published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology in 2015 found that consuming goji berries can lower blood pressure by inhibiting the activity of a type of long non-coding RNA (in English: lncRNA). sONE) in mice that have high blood pressure, but it should be noted that goji berries can significantly reduce blood pressure in people with low blood pressure, and you can read more about this in the section on Goji berry damage below.
Help maintain eye health: A study published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science in 2011, which was conducted on a group of healthy elderly people, indicated that the daily consumption of goji berry supplements increases the levels of zeaxanthin and other antioxidants in the blood, and reduces the risk of hypopigmentation (English: hypopigmentation) and drusen (English: Drusen) accumulation in the retinal macula (English: Macula) ; It is a yellow deposit that forms under the retina of the eye, but further studies are still needed to know its mechanism of action.
Other benefits: Goji berries are used in other cases, but there is not enough evidence to confirm their value in these cases. Some of them are mentioned below:
Improvement of blood circulation problems.
Reduce dizziness.
Reduce fever.
Reduce the risk of malaria.
Reduce tinnitus (in English: Tinnitus).
Reduce the problems of sexual weakness (in English: Impotence).
Scientific studies on the benefits of goji berries
Here are the results of some studies on the benefits of goji berries:
A preliminary study was conducted on mice exposed to chronic radiation and was published in Phytotherapy Research in 2010. It indicated that consumption of goji berries helps improve fertility. As it reduces damage resulting from exposure to this radiation, increasing sperm movement and count, improving one’s sexual ability, and others.
A preliminary study conducted on mice and published in the Journal of Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences in 2010 indicated that consumption of goji berry juice may help maintain healthy skin by reducing skin damage from excessive exposure. in the sun and reducing inflammation and exposure to edema. the antioxidant content reduces the lipid peroxidation caused by these rays
A preliminary study conducted on mice and published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry in 2017 indicated that taking goji berry supplements reduces the risk of developing colitis and reduces the infiltration of neutrophils, which belong to white blood cells, which which may also make it beneficial for people with IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Goji berry damage
The safety of goji berries
Eating goji berries for a short time is; That is, up to 3 months with potential safety, but taking it in rare cases can cause liver damage, increased sensitivity to the sun and the appearance of allergic reactions, and it is possible to take during pregnancy to cause contractions in the uterus, but this has not been recorded in humans, and it is advisable to avoid eating it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as there is no not enough information about how safe it is to eat goji berries.
Contraindications to the use of goji berries
There are certain cases in which you should be careful when eating goji berries; Of which we mention the following:
People with low blood pressure: Goji berries can significantly reduce blood pressure in people with low blood pressure.
Diabetic patients: Goji berries can significantly reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, if taken with diabetes medications, and therefore it is recommended to constantly monitor blood sugar levels in their blood.
People with allergies: Goji berries are allergic to people who are allergic to peach skin and a protein called Panallergen non-specific lipid transfer protein. Allergy to these berries can cause side effects. Such as nausea, dizziness, or wheezing when breathing (in English: Wheezing), or hives (in English: Hives), and it is advisable to consult a doctor if you suspect you have this allergy.
Drug interactions with goji berries
Here is a mention of some medications that goji berries may interfere to a moderate degree with their effect on the body:
Drugs that change in the liver: Some drugs undergo metabolism and conversion in the liver, and taking them with goji berries may reduce the rate of this event, which may lead to an increased effect of these drugs and the appearance of their side effects, and therefore it is recommended to consult a doctor before taking them together. Examples of these drugs include: amitriptyline, diclofenac, ibuprofen and others.
Diabetes medications: (English: Anti-diabetic medications), the peel of goji berries can lower blood sugar levels, and taking them with diabetes medications can lead to a significant drop in blood sugar levels , and it is therefore recommended to constantly monitor blood sugar and consult a doctor. Where medication doses may need to be changed; Examples of these drugs include: insulin, glimepiride, glipizide and others.
Medicines for Hypertension: (English: antihypertensives), goji berries can lower the level of blood pressure, and taking it with these medicines can significantly reduce the level of blood pressure. Examples of these drugs include: losartan, diltiazem, captopril and others.
Warfarin: (English: Warfarin), which is used to slow down the blood clotting process, and goji berries can increase the duration of warfarin in the body, which can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising, and therefore it is recommended to regularly check the blood and consult a doctor for the possibility of the need to change the dose of warfarin .
An overview of goji berries
Goji berries (scientific name: Lycium barbarum) grow on semi-erect, perennial vines, and their origins date back to northern China. As it was cultivated since ancient times for the sake of leaves and fruits, and goji berries belong to the Solanaceae (English: Solanaceae) family, which is the same species to which tomatoes grown from the stem of the plant, and its small edible seeds resemble tomato seeds, in addition to the fact that its flowers are purple in color and then turn yellow, and goji berries are among the perennial fruits that have the ability to produce fruits and flowers during the growing season, and it should be noted that Goji berries can be obtained dried, ground, or in the form of juice, capsules or tea.
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