In 2004, the Australian magazine "Bazar" published an article about the unique properties of goji berries in the fight against cellulite . Since that time, arguments about the usefulness of berries have not abated. The Internet is full of both enthusiastic and negative reviews. Let's try to figure out whether the goji berries are useful.
Are goji berries useful or harmful?
Goji berries are fruits of Chinese or common wood. These two very closely related species come from China, but the common tree is now widespread everywhere in Europe and in Russia, where it is called zamanuha or wolfberry. By the way, the term wolfberry combines a group of plants, not all of which have toxic properties. So, the berries of the tree are not poisonous. They have long been used in Chinese traditional medicine as a remedy for headaches, for improving eyesight and as a restorative and tonic.
Recommends berries of a tree for maintenance of a tone of an organism and traditional western medicine, however advises to not break a dosage in 30 mg of dried berries a day.
Than useful goji berries:
- contain a large amount of vitamin C (about 270 mg);
- a lot of B vitamins (B1-11 mg, B2 - 20.3 mg, B6 - 3 mg, B12 - 2.4 mg);
- fruits of the tree contain beta-carotene - 3.96 mg;
- phosphorus - 6.7 mg;
- iron - 3,4 mg;
- calcium - 111 mg;
- selenium - 50 mcg;
- polysaccharides - 45 mg.
In fact, goji berries are a good multivitamin supplement to food. In addition, despite the fact that in the Western world, almost no serious clinical studies of berries have been conducted, Chinese doctors believe that the fruits of the tree can help in the fight against diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and certain forms of cancer.
Goji berries contain antioxidants ( vitamin C , beta-carotene, lycopene, selenium), which protect the body from free radicals, slow the aging process, and can help protect against cancer.
As to how much goji berries are useful for losing weight, you can give a two-fold answer. Yes, the fruits of the tree can be used during diets to enrich your diet with vitamins and minerals, as well as to keep the spirit alive, because goji have an easy tonic effect. But they are unlikely to help those who lie on the couch for days and eat candy kilograms.
Goji berries benefit and contraindications
Goji berries certainly benefit, if you use them dried in the recommended amount of 30-50 g. But there are contraindications:
- not recommended to pregnant women, because they can cause allergies, as well as according to some data, to provoke abortion;
- the fruits of the tree are contraindicated to people with an allergy to red fruits or vegetables, nightshade;
- Do not give them to children under three years of age, because of the high risk of allergic reactions;
- people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract before eating berries for food, it is worth consulting with a doctor;
- contraindicated goji people who take anticoagulants and cures for hypertension.
How to use goji berries?
The fruits of the tree can be brewed with boiling water, like tea. You can add in porridge and yogurt, or grind in a mortar and use as spices when cooking dishes from pork or poultry. Or make soup in Tibetan.
Soup in Tibetan
Ingredients:
- white wood fungus - 15 g;
- dragon's eye (Pitahaya) - 15 g;
- sugar ½ tablespoon;
- goji berries - 15 g.
Preparation
Soak the mushroom in water, peel and boil in boiling water for 10 minutes. Then another 10 minutes to cook the wood mushroom and goji berries on the steam bath. Fruits of a dragon's eye finely chopped. In the boiling water put a dragon eye, goji berries, wood mushroom and sugar. Cook for 30 minutes.
In any case, no matter what culinary idea you have visited, the benefits of the goji berries will not decrease.