Goji berry juice being recognized as a health promoting superfood - here's why

Wednesday, March 16, 2016 by: Harold Shaw
Tags: goji berry juice, antioxidants, functional superfoods

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(NaturalNews) Over the past few decades, chemistry and science have evolved to such a degree that we are now able to understand how our bodies get sick, grow old and die. At a molecular level, researchers are able to determine which processes kill off cells and which ones protect them, fortifying their defense mechanism and enhancing their functions.There are two very important types of substances associated with the life and death of our cells. Those are antioxidants and free radicals.

Recently, interest in antioxidants became so widespread that the U.S. Department of Agriculture came up with a test to ascertain how many antioxidants a particular food item has, as well as how effective they are. Since this is an entirely new field, they also came up with a way to quantify the free-radical-destroying potential, through ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) units. What does this have to do with berry juice? Well, in terms of ORAC units, goji berries are off the charts. This is the reason why they are now deemed a superfood by many.

More about antioxidants and free radicals

Free radicals kill cells. They can either be created by our immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria or caused by environmental factors, such as smoking, radiation, toxins associated with pollution or even herbicides. Our bodies have natural reserves of antioxidants to neutralize these radical compounds, but if the former are not available, a lot of damage can occur. This is because, once a cell is affected by a radical, it becomes one itself. The process also greatly accelerates as we become older.

The way antioxidants work is by ending the chain reaction caused by free radicals. What they do is bind to radicals, neutralizing them and preventing further oxidative damage. Of course, our friends from fruits and veggies lose something in the process, but they don't become dangerous to our body, because they are stable elements in both instances. Simply put, antioxidants prevent the death and damage caused by free radicals to healthy tissue and, in the process, they also prevent many illnesses.

This is the reason why a lot of individuals believe that a diet rich in organic vegetables and fruit can prevent the on-set of cancer and keep our bodies young, strong and healthy.

Back to the berries

When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, goji berries are staring at the competition in the rear-view mirror. They have more than twice as much antioxidants as cranberries and five times that of blueberries or blackberries. The only things that can rival this Chinese-born superfood are spices such as black pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, paprika, cumin or curry. In the world of spices, the dried ones are even better, since they are, theoretically, more concentrated. Basically, by drinking goji berry juice, you help your body repair cell damage and slow down the aging process.

In terms of vital nutrients we are already familiar with, just one ounce of goji has 15% of the recommended daily dose of iron, no less than half of your daily vitamin A needs and hefty doses of fiber and vitamin C. Because of its high density of nutrients, goji juice is said to help eyesight, greatly fortify the immune system and even promote weight loss. However, more studies are necessary to ascertain their precise effects when it comes to each of these aspects.

Whether you prefer tea, juice or dried fruit, goji berries can accustom even the most sensitive of palates. Their taste is a balance of sweet and sour, with a pleasant chewy texture. If we are to truly change our ways in terms of diet habits, we most definitely need to introduce our children to these superfoods.

Sources include:

LiveStrong.com

Web.Stanford.edu

LiveStrong.com

NutritionData.Self.com

AltMedicine.About.com

Science.NaturalNews.com