The Tibetan Goji Berry - miracle fruit?

[Guest guest]

I'm going to be seeing a Tibetan Doctor in a few weeks, and

apparently, according to his website, he's a big proponent of Goji

Berries. Also some say it's important to get the authentic Goji

Berry, not the Chinese Wolfberry, which is often times passed off

as Goji Berries. My Tibetan friend gave me some in April " for

energy " and said they were really good medicine. I've just dug them

out and started eating them.

Here's a description:

The Tibetan Goji Berry, grown in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet,

is loaded with nutrients and powerful Antioxidants. The Goji Berry

contains 18 Amino Acids, (six times higher than bee pollen) more

Beta Carotene than carrots, more Iron than spinach, 21 Trace

Minerals, and 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than oranges! The

13 % protein in the Goji Berry is higher than whole wheat, and

displays an insulin like action that is affective in fat

decomposition. The Goji Berry is loaded with many other vitamins and

minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and

Vitamin E. Truly an incredible food and the best part is the Goji

Berry tastes great! Sweet and delicious!

http://www.gojiberryproducts.com/

They are a very rich source of vitamin C, having 500 times more

vitamin C per ounce than oranges, actually more almost any fruit you

could name. They are also a superb source of vitamin A, not

surprising because they are a really pretty red color. Goji berries

also have vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E; they are becoming a famous

antioxidant. They are also a rich source of both selenium and

germanium and have hence been used in a number of clinical trials

involving cancer patients. When given to patients undergoing

chemotherapy, the berries conferred significant protection for the

liver. In Oriental medicine, they are said to correct chi

deficiency, meaning that people with low energy, insomnia, heart

palpitations, and even anxiety are more comfortable after consuming

goji berries.

The therapeutic dosage is 10-30 grams per day, and the berries may

be taken at any time and in any form, from liquid to a snack food.

The berries have 18 amino acids (higher than bee pollen) and 21

trace minerals, linoleic acid, and more beta carotene than carrots.

In vitro studies suggest that goji berries kill many kinds of cancer

cells. The mechanism whereby this happens is believed to involve

some factor that inhibits the ability of the cell to divide, thus

lowering its reproductive capacity. A large study in Japan suggested

that tumor growth was inhibited by 58% among the patients eating

goji berries as compared to the control groups. A study in Mongolia

showed that patients eating the goji berries had a significant

increase in lymphocyte activity and that their blood began to

resemble that of much younger persons.

http://www.kitchendoctor.com/foodandrecipes/goji_berries.html

Goji berries, sometimes called wolfberries, are perhaps the most

nutritionally rich fruit on the planet. Goji berries contain 18

kinds of amino acids (six times higher than bee pollen) and contain

all 8 essential amino acids (such as isoleucine and tryptophan).

Goji berries contain up to 21 trace minerals (the main ones being

zinc, iron, copper, calcium, germanium, selenium, and phosphorus).

Goji berries are the richest source of carotenoids, including beta-

carotene (more beta carotene than carrots), of all known foods or

plants on earth! They contain 500 times the amount of vitamin C, by

weight, than oranges making them second only to camu camu berries as

the richest vitamin C source on earth. Goji berries also contain

vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin E.

Mature fruits contain about 11 mg or iron per 100 grams, beta-

sisterol (an anti-inflammatory agent), linoleic acid (a fatty acid),

sesquiterpenoids (cyperone, solavetivone), tetraterpenoids

(zeaxanthin, physalin), and betaine (0.1%).

Goji berries contain polysaccharides which fortify the immune

system. A polysaccharide found in this fruit has been found to be a

powerful secretagogue (a substance that stimulates the secretion of

rejuvenative human growth hormone by the pituitary gland).

Goji berries have been traditionally regarded as a longevity,

strength-building, and sexual potency food of the highest order. In

several study groups with elderly people the berry was given once a

day for 3 weeks, many beneficial results were experienced and 67% of

the patients T cell transformation functions tripled and the

activity of the patients white cell interleukin-2 doubled. In

addition, the results showed that all the patients spirit and

optimism increased significantly, appetite improved in 95% of the

patients, 95% of the patients slept better, and 35% of the patients

partially recovered their sexual function.

The famed Li Qing Yuen, who apparently lived to the age of 252 years

(1678-1930), consumed Goji berries daily. The life of Li Qing Yuen

is the most well-documented case of extreme longevity known.

These Goji berries grow in protected valleys in million year old

soil in wild and cultivated areas. The plants grow like bushes with

vines that reach over 15 feet. The berries are never touched by hand

as they will oxidize and turn black if touched while fresh. They are

shaken onto mats, then dried in the shade.

The Goji berry is a deep-red, dried fruit about the same size as a

raisin. The Goji berry tastes somewhat like a cross between a

cranberry and a cherry.

A good daily intake of Goji berries is 10-30 grams (a small

handful). Goji berries may be used as snacks or mixed with recipes

or smoothies like other dried fruits.

http://www.rawfood.com/cgi-bin/order/index.cgi?d=single & item_id=0572

(penny's note: I read one person complaining that the berries they

got from this company were not authentic, but wolfberries instead. I

dno't know if this is true)

Also, I read a report at one website that it stabilizes glucose

levels and was responsible for significant weight loss in children

eating the beries.

Again, I can't vouch for any of this, but they do seem like a

powerful anti-oxidant, at the very least. And they're natural and

are easy to eat.