What’s the Deal Wednesdays – GOJI BERRIES

Today we’re talking Goji Berries.

I’m pretty skeptical of any food that touts itself as a “super food” these days. I mean, to me, SO many things could be considered a "super food”.

Many new and exciting health foods get scooped up by marketers and companies aiming only to make a profit. They change around the product, make outrageous or exaggerated claims and basically confuse us all!

Well I’m here to try to sort this all out:

What are they?: Goji Berries are a bright orange-red berry that come from a shrub native to China. They are the berry of many names; they go by wolfberry, mede berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, Murali (in India), red medlar, or matrimony vine. They are usually found in a dried form and are similar in size to raisins or cranberries. It can also be found in juice form.

What’s the Deal?: Goji berries contain many nutrients and phytochemicals essential to good health. They are especially well known for their high antioxidant content and vitamin A. They are purported to prevent cancer and heart disease (among other illnesses), and possibly slow the aging process. 

While some swear by the supposed effects of this berry, many experts in the nutrition and traditional medicine field are skeptical and are hard-pressed to find any real evidence of their disease-fighting claims.

Personally, I think the hype over these, and many other “super foods” for that matter, is a little over the top. The trendiness of these berries is causing some to feel that eating them will somehow cause something extraordinary to happen with their health. Goji berries and the beverages made with their juice are NOT CHEAP and people are willing to pay a lot of money in hopes of finding a health miracle. Though I don’t think you’re going to find a miracle in Goji berries, and I think you can get a lot of the same health benefits from more familiar (and less expensive) berries such as blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries, I do not see any harm in adding them into your diet… if you can afford it!

Where to use Goji Berries?: I would probably stick with the dried version rather than the juice. 100% Goji berry juice is very rare and many of the juices on the market have a very small amount of the actual goji juice and can contain added sugar and preservatives.

You can use dried goji berries anywhere you would use cranberries or raisins. Try putting them in baked goods like muffins, sprinkling them on your oatmeal or cereal, putting them on top of a salad or yogurt, or in your smoothies.

In all honestly, because of the price, I have never purchased them. I hear they aren’t that great tasting though! I will spend my money on certain things I believe are important(organic food, safe cosmetics and cleaners for example), but goji berries are just something I don’t feel are necessary for me (unless of course, someone else buys them for me )

Ever tried Goji Berries? What are your thoughts on Super Foods?

Research From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfberry
http://www.webmd.com
http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2007-02-27/rosenberg-gojiberries.html