This includes nutrients like vitamin C and zinc, both of which are needed for key cellular pathways involved in immunity. Vitamin C also helps white blood cells find and destroy harmful germs, ultimately keeping cells healthy and well.

Ma ZF, Zhang H, Teh SS, et al. Goji berries as a potential natural antioxidant medicine: an insight into their molecular mechanisms of action. Oxid Med Cell Longev. Li X, Holt RR, Keen CL, Morse LS, Yiu G, Hackman RM.

Goji berry intake increases macular pigment optical density in healthy adults: a randomized pilot trial. Vidović BB, Milinčić DD, Marčetić MD, et al. Health benefits and applications of goji berries in functional food products development: A review. Antioxidants Basel.

USDA FoodData Central. Goji berries, dried. Strawberries, raw. Cai H, Liu F, Zuo P, et al. Practical application of antidiabetic efficacy of lycium barbarum polysaccharide in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Med Chem. Tourkochristou E, Triantos C, Mouzaki A. The influence of nutritional factors on immunological outcomes. Front Immunol. National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune function. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance.

Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. In my book How Not to Die, I center my recommendations around a Daily Dozen checklist of all the things I try to fit into my daily routine.

Yellow plant pigments, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, build up in the back of our eyes to protect our retinas against age-related macular degeneration. Levels of these eyesight—saving nutrients in organic free-range eggs, vegetables, and goji berries are compared.

Blueberry consumption may double the population of our cancer-fighting immune cells, and the spices cardamom and black pepper may boost their activity. The melatonin content in certain plant foods such as almonds, raspberries, and goji berries may explain the improvement in sleep quality associated with tart cherry consumption.

A component of cooked ginger root protects human white blood cells in vitro against radiation-induced genetic damage, and lemon balm tea appears to protect radiology staff against radiation-induced oxidative stress. Which common dried fruit is the most antioxidant-packed: apple rings, dried apricots, dried cherries, dried mango, prunes, or raisins?

Compared to popular fruits such as apples, bananas, and mangoes, which of the hundreds of different berries tested have the most and least antioxidant power: blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, crowberries, dog rose berries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, or Tahitian noni juice?

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Greger offers a sneak peek into his book How Not to Diet. Dietary Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Yellow plant pigments, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, build up in the back of our eyes to protect our retinas against age-related macular degeneration.

Boosting Natural Killer Cell Activity Blueberry consumption may double the population of our cancer-fighting immune cells, and the spices cardamom and black pepper may boost their activity.

Tart Cherries for Insomnia The melatonin content in certain plant foods such as almonds, raspberries, and goji berries may explain the improvement in sleep quality associated with tart cherry consumption.

Better than Goji Berries There are some dried fruits even more antioxidant-packed than goji berries.

Similarly, a study in people with early macular degeneration showed that daily goji berry supplements improved the density of macular pigment, which may protect against the progression of macular degeneration Goji berries are also packed with antioxidants like zeaxanthin , which help protect your lenses and retinas against damage 1 , Goji berries are loaded with important nutrients and antioxidants.

Plus, they may support immune function and healthy vision. However, these berries may trigger an allergic reaction in rare cases, especially in individuals who are allergic to other fruits 17 , Additionally, goji berries may interact with certain drugs, including blood thinners and medications for diabetes or high blood pressure 1.

Further research is needed to determine whether goji berries are safe during pregnancy Goji berries may interact with certain medications and trigger an allergic reaction in some people.

Additional studies should evaluate whether these fruits are safe during pregnancy. They can be easily swapped in for other dried fruits in cereal, yogurt , trail mix, and granola. You can also add them to baked goods like cookies, muffins, brownies, and breads. To soften and rehydrate them, try soaking dried goji berries for a few minutes.

Rehydrated goji berries make a great addition to salsas, smoothies, soups, and stir-fries. Finally, goji berry powders and juice blends can be mixed into many drinks, shakes, and smoothies.

Goji berries are available dried, powdered, and in various juices. You can enjoy them as toppings on sweet dishes or mixed into baked goods, smoothies, and more. In addition to their vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content, these berries may promote immune function and eye health.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Berries taste great and may have many health benefits, including preventing and reducing symptoms of chronic disease.

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Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD , Nutrition — By Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD on September 8, Their scientific name is Lycium barbarum. Goji berries are native to Asia and have a sweet and slightly sour flavour. They have been a part of traditional medicine since time immemorial.

They are essential to slow down the signs of ageing and maintain eye health. In addition, they strengthen your liver, kidneys, and lungs. There are five varieties of Goji berries available across the globe. They are easy to cultivate as they do not need a particular climate.

Still, some of them require specific growing conditions to produce yield. Their scientific name is Lycium Ferocissimum. Ferocissimum is a Latin term for ferocious. It is termed ferocious because it is full of thorns on its branches. They are native to Africa.

They are a fruiting plant in Africa, but they act as a fencing shrub in Australia. Their scientific name is Lycium Ruthinicum. They are the rarest varieties of Goji berries available and can reach 4 to 6 feet in height.

They are native to the Northern Himalayas, and their preference is gradually growing among the cultivators. Their scientific name is Lycium Australe and is a close relative to the African boxthorn. The only difference is that African boxthorn is considered a weed in Australia.

It favours a drier climate with fine sand and clay-rich soil. It produces an abundant amount of green leaves, usually 2 centimeters long, and they come covered with tiny white hairs.

Their scientific name is Lycium Pallidum. They are a mini version of Arizona Desert-Thorn in appearance. Although they require a similar climate to Arizona desert-thorn, they are half in size.

They produce lilac coloured flowers that measure an inch in diameter. Goji berries have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial compounds. They have the highest concentration of protein among fruits. In addition, they have more than 15 times the iron present in spinach. They are also rich in calcium and zinc.

You can add Goji powder to your smoothies. You can also have them as a snack. According to a study , Goji berries improve overall health. They boost the functioning of your immune system.

Hence, it is highly beneficial for people with arthritis. There are numerous benefits of Goji berries when it comes to hair. According to research , Goji berries are rich in vitamin A and C. They help in the easy absorption of iron. In addition, vitamin A improves blood flow to the scalp.

It also enhances memory power. Vitamin C enables the absorption of nutrients. Add Goji berry juice with essential oils and almond oil and massage it on your scalp. Leave the hair mask for 30 minutes and wash it off for gorgeous hair.

Goji berries help improve depression and anxiety-related conditions. In addition, consuming one cup of Goji berry juice daily can enhance energy, mood, and digestive health.

Furthermore, as per a study , it positively works on the focusing ability and athletic performance. It strengthens your mental acuity and feelings of calmness. Goji juice shows results quickly, and one can include them every day. As per research , goji berries have active agents which help remove toxins from the body and improve kidney function.

When the kidney function undergoes disruption, it may lead to the accumulation of waste materials in the body. These berries reduce the burden on the kidneys by eliminating free radicals and toxins from the body.

Goji berries are rich in polyphenols. They help get rid of free radicals from the body and are thus highly beneficial for people with high blood pressure.

In addition, due to their antioxidant properties, they may repair DNA damage caused by pollution, smoking, and other such factors.

They also help in the conversion of vitamin A. Hence, it would help if you regularly consumed moderate quantities of berries. Goji berries are beneficial in Chinese medicine to support fertility and IVF success rates. They are superfoods and are rich in antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C.

They are also full of calcium, iron, and amino acids. Goji berries help in improving fertility in both men and women. Studies show that they may increase sperm count and strength, sex drive, and reproductive hormone function. In addition, they benefit ovaries, strengthen egg quality, and reduce fatigue to enhance sex drive.

Sometimes, Goji berries may harm health if you consume them in excess. Goji berries have a unique nutritional status with numerous health benefits. As long as you take them in moderate quantities, they can benefit you. However, if taken in excessive amounts, they may cause specific side effects.

Individuals with known allergic reactions to other fruits should be cautious while taking Goji berries. Studies show that such people may trigger an allergic reaction.

Hence, it is essential to find out if you are allergic to goji berries if you have any known allergies to other fruits. People who take diabetes or high blood pressure medications should refrain from their use.

Goji berries may interact with certain drugs, including blood thinners. You should not add Goji berries to your diet if you are on medications or undergoing treatments for any underlying health conditions.

It would help if you went for the advice of a healthcare provider first before making any personal choices. Hence, being aware of the adverse effects is as essential as knowing the benefits of Goji berries. There is not enough evidence to explain the effect of Goji berries on pregnant women.

Studies suggest betaine, a compound usually found in them. Hence, it is safer not to have them. They may harm fetal health, which may give rise to complications. Goji berries are tiny red coloured fruits that are native to China.

You can use them for adding flavour to your food and even serve as traditional medicine. They are available in five different varieties across the globe and are highly beneficial for your health, including them in your diet is a good idea.

They have anti-inflammatory properties, help hair growth, and improve depression, anxiety, and sleep quality. In addition, they are good for your kidneys, treat high blood pressure, and enhance fertility.

You can create exciting recipes with them.

Natural fruit sugar or fructose accounts for around 17 grams of these carbs, while fiber supplies another 5 grams.

There is something interesting about the type of carbs in goji berries, too. barbarum polysaccharides have been revered in Chinese medicine for many years, and eating foods that are high in them has been linked decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels and a reduced risk of heart disease.

They have also been linked to improved fertility and immune health. That amount will give you:. Goji berries may look a little strange, but there's a lot of nutrition in those little shriveled red packages.

According to the report, there are many beneficial compounds in goji berries, but one of the most significant is a class of compounds called carotenoids. Carotenoids are naturally-occurring pigments that give the goji berries their distinctive color.

They also act as powerful antioxidants and are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. These antioxidants are also linked to improved cognitive performance, like thinking and memory.

The same study also notes that the carotenoids and other phenolic compounds beneficial elements found in plants are associated with improved immunity, protection against tumors and keeping your brain healthy. They've also been linked to increased fertility in men.

Although most dried goji berries that you find at your supermarket or local health food store are the red variety, there are also black goji berries. Menu 🔍 Search Home Nutrition calculator Compare Favorites Recipes Food tracker Log in. BMI calculator Custom foods Trends Reports Your comparisons Profile Contribute Contact us Install app.

Download spreadsheet CSV. Badges: low fat , high sugar. Blueberries, sweetened, dried. Mango, sweetened, dried. Persimmons, dried, japanese. Cranberries, sweetened, dried. Currants, dried, zante. Figs, uncooked, dried.

Figs, stewed, dried. Peaches, uncooked, sulfured, dried. Plums, uncooked, dried prunes. Apples, uncooked, sulfured, dried. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.

There aren't many human trials of goji berry, and many are small. But they suggest that goji may protect against vision loss , heart disease , diabetes , and liver problems. Here's the latest evidence about goji berry's benefits. A few clinical trials have studied the effects of goji berry on age-related macular degeneration AMD , a leading cause of blindness.

Goji berry contains lutein and zeaxanthin , two carotenoids red, yellow, or orange pigmennts that protect the eye from damage. Goji is the richest dietary source of zeaxanthin.

Studies show that taking it for 28 days can more than double the levels of zeaxanthin in the blood. A trial of older patients with early AMD showed that goji berry increased macular pigment and zeaxanthin compared to placebo sugar pill containing no therapeutic ingredients.

These increases may slow the progression of degeneration in the eye. In another trial of healthy middle-aged adults, goji berry was more effective than taking a supplement containing smaller amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin. This trial was small—limited to just 27 people. However, results suggest that goji berry could help strengthen the eyes and prevent AMD , even in people without eye damage.

Goji berry has also been shown to protect the retina and preserve vision in retinitis pigmentosa. This was also small, consisting of 42 people who took goji for 12 months. A trial of 54 people with myopia nearsightedness showed that zeaxanthin from goji berry increased macular pigment, which is associated with better vision.

Larger clinical trials are needed to verify these effects. In a clinical trial, 67 people with type 2 diabetes took goji berries for three months.

It resulted in the following:. The most significant effects were seen in people not taking other diabetes medications. Goji berries, mainly when eaten as a whole food, may lower the risk of heart disease. It has been shown to decrease levels of triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol , both of which protect the heart.

A small clinical trial of 40 adults over age 50 compared the effects of a healthy diet with and without whole dried goji berries. People who ate 15 g of goji berry daily in along with a healthy diet had higher levels of HDL cholesterol and a decreased long-term risk of heart disease.

Taking goji berry for 12 weeks may improve liver function, according to a trial of 90 adults with elevated liver enzymes. Goji berry decreased the following liver enzymes:. This was associated with healthy liver function.

Goji berry has also been investigated in preclinical studies in test tubes or using animal models for the following conditions:.

Until human clinical trials are done, it's too soon to know if goji can benefit humans with any of these conditions. Goji berry is unlikely to cause side effects in healthy adults. However, consuming a food like goji berry may have potential side effects. These side effects may be common and mild or less common and severe.

Goji has been associated with:. Should you experience these symptoms, seek medical help right away. Do keep the following precautions in mind when using goji berry:.

Goji berry has not shown evidence of toxicity in clinical trials. Most trials have only been conducted for up to three months. Long-term safety data is unknown. Goji berries may interact with the following medications:. It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included.

Please review the supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications. Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs.

Goji berries are typically consumed at 15 to 30 g per day. Lower doses of 6 to 18 g daily may be used as part of combination herbal products. The dose studied in a clinical trial for AMD was 28 g five days a week for 90 days.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration FDA does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement , look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist RD or RDN , or pharmacist.

Fresh goji berry is perishable and has a short shelf life. The berry will generally stay fresh for up to nine days if it's refrigerated. Dried goji berries or juices are typically found in health food or grocery stores.

For these products, follow the manufacturer's directions regarding storage and expiration date. Juices may need to be refrigerated after opening. Goji berry supplements like capsules or powders should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from children or pets. Discard them after one year or according to package labeling.

Other supplements that may slow or prevent the progression of AMD include:. Goji berry is available as a whole food, in commercially available food and drinks, and in supplement form.

Whenever possible, eat goji as a whole food to optimize its therapeutic effects. Dried goji berries can be eaten raw or cooked and used in teas and soups. Goji berries are also ingredients in commercial products such as cookies, chocolates, and wine.

The U. Department of Agriculture USDA provides the following nutritional profile for five tablespoons, or 28 grams, of dried goji berries. Micronutrients such as the following are also found in goji berries:. Goji berry supplements are available in capsule, extract, and powder forms.