Goji Berry Extract

Goji (Lycium barbarum) has been lauded as "one of the most nutritionally dense foods on Earth" because by weight these little berries contain 500 times more vitamin C than oranges, have more beta-carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach.¹ They also contain, zeaxanthin, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, germanium, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆ and E. Goji is also a powerful antioxidant.¹ Goji juice also contains 19 amino acids including all nine of the essential amino acids (histidine, isoeucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,threonine, tryptophan and valine).

However the most significant component of Goji may be its polysaccharide content. Recent research indicates that polysaccharides may have numerous benefits in the body including immune and inflammation regulation.² Animal studies have show that these polysaccharides may protect the liver and kidneys from age-related oxidative stress.^3,4 Another animal study has indicated that these same polysaccharides may be beneficial in improving insulin resistance caused by diabetes.⁵ More interesting yet is a 2006 study that suggested that the polysaccharides improved the antioxidant action of the antioxidants that naturally occur in goji and may prevent DNA damage associated with oxidative stress.⁶

You have likely already heard of goji, perhaps you have seen it on you local grocery store shelves or you may have seen a story on ABC News. Goji is a small red berry that grows in large regions of Asia. The name goji is an english derivative of the Mandarin word "gou'qi". Its scientific name is Lycium barbarum Lynn, typically it is referred to in scientific literature as Lycium barbarum L. or simply as Lycium barbarum. Goji also goes by the common names wolfberry, boxthorn, matrimony vine and in the UK where it has been naturalized, it is called Duke of Argyll's tea tree.

Native to the low elevations of Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and the Tian Shan Mountains of western Xinjiang regions of western China, goji has been part of the diet and used as food and traditional medicine in Tibet, China, and India for centuries, with some experts stating 6,000 years of use. Traditional healers believe goji helps regulate blood pressure, prevent cancer, balance blood sugar levels, improves vision and prevents premature aging. Whether or not goji truly helps with these ailments remains to be seen, as goji is currently the subject of many studies.

Contrary to popular advertising, goji does NOT grow in the Himalayas at extreme high altitude and import/export records indicate that there is not significant (if any) goji coming from Tibet. Most goji comes from Ningxia Hui & Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions of China where it grows wild and is commercially grown and harvested. Goji is celebrated with an annual two week festival during the harvest season in Ningxia due to its importance as a traditional medicine, food and to local culture.

Why Goji?

Goji has been lauded as "one of the most nutritionally dense foods on Earth" because by weight these little berries contain 500 times more vitamin C than oranges, have more beta-carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach.¹ They also contain, zeaxanthin, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, germanium, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆ and E. Goji is also a powerful antioxidant.¹ Goji juice also contains 19 amino acids including all nine of the essential amino acids (histidine, isoeucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine).

However the most significant component of Goji may be its polysaccharide content. Recent research indicates that polysaccharides may have numerous benefits in the body including immune and inflammation regulation.² Animal studies have show that these polysaccharides may protect the liver and kidneys from age-related oxidative stress.^3,4 Another animal study has indicated that these same polysaccharides may be beneficial in improving insulin resistance caused by diabetes.⁵ More interesting yet is a 2006 study that suggested that the polysaccharides improved the antioxidant action of the antioxidants that naturally occur in goji and may prevent DNA damage associated with oxidative stress.⁶