Goji Berries’ benefits are so many that they are considered- especially from the Chinese- as the secret of longevity and wellness.
Besides, it was consumed daily by the well-known Chinese botanist Li Qing Yuen, who allegedly lived almost 200 years (1736-1933)!
The story of the famous orange-red berry began many centuries ago, from China and Tibet where they widely used it in their everyday life. References for the goji exist dating back to 2,800 BC.
The legend says that it was discovered Buddhist monks as they crossed the mountains of Tibet. They were impressed by its taste and they included it in their diet. Then they noticed that the monks that ate the berries lived longer than the others, and that led them to the conclusion that these specific berries have healing properties.
Goji Berry benefits might be discovered centuries ago in Asia, but became well known in the Western world centuries later.
Today, their nutritional value has spread all over the world. You can find them everywhere, fresh or processed, even as an extract to cosmetics.
With valuable nutritional qualities and pleasant taste, Goji is one of the most famous super-foods, particularly in its dried form. There are indeed many reasons to love the Goji berries and include them on your plate.
Fresh or dried?
It is ideal to eat them fresh if you want to reap all the benefits. But to found them in this format is difficult, there is also an alternative, the dried Goji berries that you can find almost everywhere.
Nutritional data
Goji berries are an excellent source of fatty acids, vitamin C (content about 70 times more than oranges), magnesium, protein, carbohydrates, carotenoids (most than the carrot), lycopene, vitamins b complex, fibbers, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.
The Gojies contributes significantly to improve our mental mood (thiamine), they increase energy levels while reducing the time it takes to sleep (carbs, magnesium), they also improve the quality of our sleep, protect the liver, regulate blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood, etc.
The germanium they contain is also one of the reasons they have anti-cancer properties. It is also thought that they invigorate sexual activity.
How to eat them
The Goji berries have a pleasant flavor, similar to that of cherries (fresh) and currants (dried). In China, they consume them in many ways. Soups, recipes with rice, and even wine with gojies are some of them.
Leaves and shoots also can be eaten as vegetables, while the dried goji are often added to muesli, yogurt, cakes, desserts, etc.
Their sweet taste fits nicely into dishes with poultry or pork while imparting a gourmet twist on cool spring salads in combination with fruity dressings.
If you’re lucky enough to have them fresh, you can make delicious homemade juices by blending with little cold water.
They are also very tasty, as a jam and fit ideally in yogurt with oats, nuts, blueberries, and raspberries.
