Those foods classified as “superfoods” tend to have some pretty impressive benefits for our health. Goji berries are no exception. Although they are quite small and fragile, the goji berry health benefits are fairly expansive. You might be surprised at how much your health can be improved, simply by adding some of these berries to your diet.
The Nutrient Factor
We all know our bodies need specific nutrients to stay healthy— that’s why eating a balanced diet is so important to our overall wellness. However, no matter how much we try, most of us still struggle to get all of the nutrients we need. One of the goji berry’s health benefits is that it supplies more than enough of some of these nutrients.
For example, the levels of vitamin C in a daily serving of goji berries are higher than what you’ll find in oranges. You’ll also find higher levels of iron in the berries than what you’d find in a serving of red meat. Since the berries don’t include high levels of cholesterol, they make for a better choice. Vitamin C and iron are not the only essential nutrients you’ll find in the berries either. They are also good sources of zinc, selenium and riboflavin.
The ORAC Rating
Unless you are in the health food industry, you may not be familiar with the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) measurements. This system shows the levels of antioxidants in different foods. The measurements were designed to make comparing different types of foods, particularly superfoods, easier.
To ensure fair testing, all of the ORAC measurements are based on 100 grams of the food being measured. For instance, 100 grams of oranges have an ORAC rating of 750. You can compare that to the ratings of strawberries (1,540) or prunes (5,770). Clearly, prunes are going to be much more powerful in terms of their ability to fight off free radicals in your body than are strawberries and oranges. However, one of the impressive goji berry health benefits is that its own measurement is over 25,000 on the ORAC scale. That’s almost five times the antioxidant power of 100 grams of prunes and more than 33 times the antioxidant strength of oranges.
If you’re looking for a healthier way to get the nutrients you need, or you’re simply concerned about fighting off the free radicals which can cause cancer and other serious health problems, you should consider taking advantage of these goji berry health benefits.
Goji Berry Recipes
Goji Berry Iced Tea
- About 1 tablespoon of goji berries per 2 cups of water
- Raw honey (to taste)
- Squeeze of lemon
Put goji berries in pitcher. Pour cold water over berries. Let it steep until the water turns a lovely reddish color and the gojis are plump. Let chill and add ice cubes if preferred.
Source: www.ninamanolson.com
Dark Chocolate Goji Berry Cookies
(Yields: 12 cookies)
- ⅔ cup walnuts
- ⅔ cup almonds
- ⅔ cup oat bran
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup raw cacao nibs
- ¼ cup goji berries
Blend nuts, oat bran, cinnamon and salt. When they’re evenly mixed fine, drizzle in honey and vanilla with food processor running until a sticky dough forms. Pulse in nibs and berries. Form into balls or cookie shapes and enjoy.
Source: www.thebettyrocker.com
Dr. Emily Hutchens is a known leader in the fields of alternative medicine and superfood nutrition. She is a firm believer in healing from the source through natural and effective means. Learn more about goji berries at www.holistikhealth.com.
