Goji berries have become relatively trendy lately, but they have been used in Chinese medicine for more than 5,000 years. It's no surprise I first learned about the superfood berries when I was working at CCTV America (China Central Television) in DC. One of my Chinese coworkers (oh heyyy Serena!) showed me how she steeps them in hot water to make a nutrient loaded herbal tea. The berries become plump and juicy after about 5-10 minutes in the hot water.
Goji berries have been eaten in Asia for generations in the hopes of living longer. These berries have been called a "fountain of youth" and over time, they have been used to treat health issues such as diabetes, fever, and eye problems (thanks WebMD!).
There are SO many studies (like this study) out there claiming a variety of health and beauty benefits of goji berries, but what we know for sure is that they are loaded with beta-carotene which helps promote healthy skin AND Goji berries contain a high amount of vitamin C (250% recommended daily value in 1 oz!). Sounds like an immune system booster to me. They also have one of the highest rankings on the ORAC scale (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), which measures their antioxidant activity.
Now it sure sounds like I am trying to sell you some goji berries...but I really just wanted to share with you something that is relatively new to me that I have been enjoying! Let me know what you think.
P.S. For some other uses....You could throw them on top of a salad, or use them as a yogurt or oatmeal topping. You might also like throwing a handful into your homemade trail mix. They would go great with some almonds and dark chocolate. Have you ever tried these berries before? How do you use them? Comment below!
There are SO many studies (like this study) out there claiming a variety of health and beauty benefits of goji berries, but what we know for sure is that they are loaded with beta-carotene which helps promote healthy skin AND Goji berries contain a high amount of vitamin C (250% recommended daily value in 1 oz!). Sounds like an immune system booster to me. They also have one of the highest rankings on the ORAC scale (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), which measures their antioxidant activity.
Now it sure sounds like I am trying to sell you some goji berries...but I really just wanted to share with you something that is relatively new to me that I have been enjoying! Let me know what you think.
P.S. For some other uses....You could throw them on top of a salad, or use them as a yogurt or oatmeal topping. You might also like throwing a handful into your homemade trail mix. They would go great with some almonds and dark chocolate. Have you ever tried these berries before? How do you use them? Comment below!