Discover the healing power of goji berries

Wednesday, October 09, 2013 by: Derek Henry
Tags: goji berries, healing power, superfoods

(NaturalNews) With the superfood movement in full force, it sometimes becomes difficult to know which ones you should be incorporating into your diet on a daily basis to strive for optimal health. What is not in question, however, is the healing power of goji berries and the fact that they are at the top of the list for superfood healing powers and should be consumed on a consistent basis for optimal health.

Goji berry nutritional profile

Goji berries are a nutrient-dense superfood that contain many health promoting factors, including:

• 18 amino acids, including all eight essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.
• Six essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).
• 21 trace minerals including calcium, copper, germanium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, selenium and zinc.
• Vitamin A, C, B-complex and E.
• A superior form of a wide range of antioxidants, including zeaxanthin, SOD (superoxide dismutase), polysaccharides, germanium and beta-carotene.

With a nutrient profile as strong as goji berries, it makes perfect sense to add them to your diet to increase your intake of various vitamins, minerals and other factors that are supportive of good health.

Areas goji berries support in the body

Goji berries support, improve and revitalize many functions of the body, including the following areas:

• Cardiovascular
• Pancreas
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Immune
• Eyes
• Circulatory
• Muscles
• Mood
• Libido
• Skin

Goji berries for vision

The orange pigment in goji berries is a very powerful antioxidant called zeaxanthin that is easily absorbed and goes directly to our eyes and liver. It actually coats the lining of our eyes and keeps them youthful.

Goji berries as a beauty food

Goji berries are known as a beauty food in China and Asia, and eating an ounce or two a day can keep your skin silky smooth and clear as porcelain. Goji berries are rich in phospholipids, the main lipid component of all cell membranes.

Goji berries as a good source of betaine

Betaine is a phytonutrient that has a wide range of benefits in the body, including calming the nerves, enhancing memory, protecting the liver and especially protecting the cardiovascular system. Studies indicate that betaine helps reduce potentially toxic levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is produced by the body and can be harmful to blood vessels.

Goji also helps with cholesterol, inflammation and blood sugar and has been affectionately called the "happy fruit" due to its ability to enhance people's moods.

How to enjoy goji berries

Goji berries are a very versatile food and can be used in a variety of ways, including the following:

• Cereal
• Trail mix
• Salads
• Smoothies
• Tea
• Baking (it has been proven that cooking does not destroy the antioxidant activity)

They can also be easily eaten on their own as a simple, powerful snack with their mild, tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour. A good quality goji berry will be moist like a raisin, but unfortunately, most on the market today are dried, which affects their palatability and digestibility.

For all these reasons, goji berries are one superfood I would suggest that you consider taking on a consistent basis to keep your body well mineralized and detoxified while supporting the key organs associated with optimal health. Their superior antioxidant activity will help negate oxidization related to poor diets, pollution, radiation and overexposure to the sun's rays.

Besides that, they are downright tasty.

Sources for this article include:

http://altmedicine.about.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.dragonherbs.com

About the author:
Derek Henry took a deadly health challenge that conventional medicine couldn't solve and self-directed a one-in-a-million health journey that found him happier and healthier than he had been in his entire life. As a result of this rewarding journey, he now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people each month who want to enjoy similar results under their own direction.

Find out how you can reverse disease and thrive with a holistic approach.