You grew up seeing it almost exclusively in double-boiled soups and Asian desserts. Today, it’s found its way into acai bowls, smoothies, and salads.
The goji berry — or wolfberry fruit as it’s known in China — has garnered quite a far bit of attention over the decade despite being tiny compared others in the berry posse, but size is irrelevant here because this fruit packs a nutritional punch more potent than other favourites.
Besides being a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the fruit’s long history also extends to the Himalayan Mountains, where monks there reportedly steeped them in hot water to aid meditation and promote vitality. The bright orange-red berries grow on a boxthorn plant in the nightshade family, and so is related to tomatoes, eggplants, and chili peppers in some way. They’re usually eaten raw, dried, or rehydrated in water.
Because it’s native to Asia, the sweet and tangy berry has been mainly used in cuisines and remedies around the region — until now.
What’s the big deal?
Goji berries do more than make your smoothie bowl look Instagrammable. As a low-caloric, fat-free, and high-fibre fruit, it’s the perfect accompaniment to mid-afternoon snacks and trail mixes for the road. The superfood also has the ability to fight free radicals, with carotenoids such as beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Besides that, you’ll also be getting about 134 percent of your daily value of vitamin A, 25 percent of vitamin C and healthy unsaturated fatty acids.
Other notable accolades include the vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6 and E, and more than 20 trace minerals, including iron, copper, zinc, calcium, selenium and phosphorus.
At 4g of protein per ounce (28g) — a surprisingly high amount of protein for a fruit — goji berries actually make good additions to pre- or post-workout shakes too, which, alongside a high fibre content (3g per ounce) can stave off blood sugar spikes. You’ll also be getting all eleven essential amino acids, which is more than can be said of common berries and an incredibly rare trait for a fruit to have.
Why you need it
Supports eye health
Antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein help stop damage from a number of eye-related issues, such as UV light exposure, free radicals and oxidative stress. Ounce for ounce, goji berries also offer more beta-carotene than carrots, which helps macular degeneration as you age. Our bodies also convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, so it has similar benefits to immune health.
Improves the immune system
Which brings us to our next point. We’re not going to turn down any help in the immunity department, especially not in this virus-stricken world. The high antioxidant properties in goji berries help keep your body primed to defend itself against free radicals and inflammation, which in turn prevents a range of illnesses, from the common cold to cancer.
Improves depression and anxiety
With natural remedies back at the forefront again, goji berries have been poked, pried at and tested repeatedly for its ability to help improve anxiety-triggered behaviour and depression. A lab test in the US proved that people who drank goji berry juice were in a better mood, felt calmer, and had sharper mental acuity. They were also able to focus better and had an improved quality of sleep as compared to those who received placebos.
Stabilises blood sugar
As a low glycemic index food, goji berries release sugar more slowly into the bloodstream while alleviating insulin resistance, so they make for better sweetening alternatives. That being said, it does contain sugar (an ounce has around 12g), so don’t go on a binge just yet.
Promotes healthier skin
Antioxidants help our skin efficiently regenerate cells for a soft, youthful complexion. The high levels of beta-carotene and a ton of different types of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, mean that goji berries can help reduce acne, promote collagen production, and even out skin tone in the long run. These little fruits will also help maintain elastin production and reduce hyperpigmentation — useful for those who spend too much time in the sun.
Prevents liver damage
Remember those late-night benders you used to partake in before the pandemic put a halt on all plans? Now’s probably a good time to start being kinder to your liver. Long used in TCM for this very purpose, goji berries — along with herbs like liquorice and lingzi — help manage liver health and prevent the progression of alcohol-induced fatty liver disease.
Shatricia Nair
Managing Editor
Shatricia Nair has a passion for motoring, beauty, and wellness, and is perpetually knee-deep in the world of V8s, retinols, and latest fitness trends. She has nine years of experience writing for digital media, and her bylines have appeared in Prestige, and Augustman. She'll do (almost) anything for good chocolate chip cookies.
Most Popular
