Goji Berries
For about six months now my family has been eating dried Goji berries
as a regular part of our diet after reading the many claims about them being
beneficial to health. Pronounced "go-gee", they're supposed to
contain, weight for weight, more:
- vitamin C than any other fruit
- antioxidants than any other food
- beta-carotene than carrots
- iron than steak
A daily serving is about 12-15 grams - less than will fit in the palm of your hand. They are an easy way to take one of your 'five servings' of fruit and vegetables.
About a month ago we stopped using them for three weeks and have
now gone back to using them. Apart from the fact that we like their taste here's
what we found compared with the claim made for them:
Claim: It improves sexual libido (OK I thought
you might want this first!)
I find: Yes - it's true! Gentlemen - feed your wife goji berries.
But be warned you'll need to eat them yourself to keep up with her.
Claim: It improves circulation
I find: Also true. My wife had always suffered from cold hands and feet - but
not when she ate goji berries. When we stopped
for three weeks her cold hands returned.
Claim: It is beneficial for prostate problems.
I find: Not sure about this one, however after blood tests showed a higher
than normal PSA count I recently underwent
a prostate examination (that's another story) and the verdict was - no sign
of prostate cancer and why did my doctor ask for the test?
Claim: They reduce cholesterol levels.
I find: Another one I can't confirm but - in those blood tests my cholesterol
level was found to be lower than normal.
Claim: They reduce joint problems.
I find: True. My wife had problems with her wrists, she has apparently bones
which are too flexible and which bend slightly and bruise becoming painful.
Since starting to eat goji berries the problem
has been much reduced. I used to get periodic stiff necks. Not a trace of them
since starting to take goji berries.
Claim: They improve eyesight.
I find: I think it's true. Both of us have stopped wearing glasses to read.
When we stopped taking goji berries we had
to use glasses again.
Claim: They improve the skin and make you look younger.
I find: Hmm. Can't be sure about this one
but then we both signed the Peter Pan pledge years ago. I'm thinking of retiring
and people keep saying 'Retire? Surely you are not old enough'.
Claim: They reduce inflammation more effectively
than aspirin.
I find: I haven't noticed any such effect. Having said that the only headache
I've had in the last six months was during the three week period when we stopped
taking them.
Claim: They promote a general feeling of well being.
I find: I feel just fine but then I always did and can't honestly say I've
noticed any difference. My wife however is convinced she feels better when
taking them.
Now for the bits we've found out that as far as we can tell isn't recorded
about the berries.
- They are very easy to grow yourself. Put three of the dried berries in a small pot of damp compost. Seedlings will grow within 3 weeks. Once they are 10cm tall transfer them to a bigger pot. They like practically any soil, shade or sunshine. You'll need to protect them from slugs - they love the leaves. The plants flower from June, producing attractive pale blue-lilac blossoms. Berries grow in the second year and you'll need to protect them from birds who also love them. We have ours where we grow roses.
- The berries taste great eaten fresh or can be dried for storage. We have a hot air drier which works well. You are not supposed to pick the berries by hand because they are very easily damaged (like ripe blackberries).
- Try adding some dried berries to a bottle of water. The berries will add
a touch of flavour and by the time you have drunk the water they will have
re-hydrated and provide a tasty snack.
- Check your local chinese supermarket for a cheaper source of the dried
berries,
failing
that try Holland and Barret or even Tesco as a source. If you live in South
East England, especially Suffolk look out for them growing in roadside hedges.
- Buy plain yogurt and add dried goji berries. Leave overnight or for 2-3 hours. The berries will re-hydrate and taste delicious with the yogurt. Some people may like to liquidise or chop the berries in the yogurt before eating it.
- If you can't wait, add boiling water to dried berries. They will re-hydrate
within 10 minutes and you can drink the liquid too.
- Cats love the dried berries. They make great treats.
- Dried goji berries are a great addition
to oatmeal when making flapjack.
- The young leaves can be used to make a herbal tea.
- The roots of a goji berry plant can be washed, crushed and work well as an antiseptic for scratches.
|©2006
JayDax