Goji berries entered the market 5–7 years ago and immediately found high demand and corresponding prices. Before purchasing them, ask about the benefits and harms of using the product, how much, how and in what proportions to take, read the comments of dietary nutrition specialists. This way you can decide for yourself what effect you should expect and whether you can hope to get the desired result.
Composition and beneficial properties
Goji berries (wolfberry) are used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine to make strengthening and rejuvenating products. The plant is classified as poisonous, so fresh fruits and seeds should not be consumed.
To remove harmful toxic substances, the berries are thoroughly dried in the sun. After drying for a long time, they acquire beneficial properties. The berries taste like barberry, which is why the plant is sometimes called Chinese barberry, but in fact there is nothing in common between these two shrubs.
Dragon Herbs, Mountain Goji Berry, 8 oz (227 g)
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The fruit contains many useful substances:
- vitamins B, E, C;
- amino acids, including those that are not produced by the body;
- more than 20 microelements;
- fatty acid;
- polysaccharides not found in any other plant;
- beta-sitosterol, which normalizes the level of harmful and good cholesterol in the blood;
- gluten;
- physalin, which is involved in the removal of toxic substances, reduces the risk of blood cancer.
Goji berries produce the following effects on the body:
- slow down aging;
- normalize blood pressure and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- relieve dizziness, migraines, inflammation;
- prevent the development of atherosclerosis;
- gently calm and relieve anxiety;
- strengthen bones, muscles, joints;
- increase the likelihood of successful conception;
- improve the condition of skin and hair;
- support immunity.
Berries also help convert food into energy. And due to the acceleration of metabolism, the body quickly uses up the existing fat layer.
Positive reviews
As a dietary supplement, the product can be used in its original and processed form (liquid, dried, chewing). Before purchasing, you need to read what people who have already purchased and tried this product say:
- After a week, you feel an additional boost of energy;
- Over time, with constant use, blood glucose levels stabilize;
- During the cold season, berries protect against lack of vitamins, weakened immunity and viral diseases;
- Goji can actually help in getting rid of extra pounds - in 4 weeks, taking the dried product, combining it with a gentle diet, people lose up to 6 kg of body fat;
- Goji really helps in normalizing blood pressure - a large number of positive reviews confirm the presence of healing properties.
Mechanism of operation
Goji berries do not burn fat, but normalize appetite and speed up metabolism.
Nutritionists recommend calculating the glycemic index of foods. Those who are losing weight need to select foods that have the lowest GI possible. The lower the number, the longer the gastrointestinal tract will process food. Goji berries have a glycemic index of 29, and glucose has a glycemic index of 100. Therefore, consuming Chinese barberry fruits helps you feel full longer.
The berries also contain a lot of thiamine, L-glutamine and L-arginine. These substances are included in some bodybuilding supplements. They help process food faster, give strength and energy.
What the instructions suggest
- External description: red berries, reminiscent of barberry.
- Origin of goji fruit: China.
- They taste inexpressive and bland.
- They are a universal remedy that can be consumed independently, like dried fruits, or used as an additive to dishes.
- Widely used in the cosmetology industry, medicine, and cooking.
The instructions from Chinese healers indicate:
- initially, treatment should be limited to 10 g every day;
- gradually, when you feel weight loss, increase the dosage to 20 g;
- The maximum norm that should be followed according to the instructions is no more than 30 g of goji berries daily.
How to use it correctly
There are several ways to use goji fruits: add to tea or porridge, consume in its pure form. But it is important to control the daily intake.
Daily dosage and course duration
For adults, 20-30 g per day is enough, for children – 15-20 pieces. The finished supplement must be taken according to the instructions.
The optimal course of treatment is 4-6 months. If you need to lose more kilograms, it can be extended, but the daily dosage should be reduced. And with a short 1-month course, the norm can be increased to 50 g.
Scheme and rules of admission
Dry berries can be consumed throughout the day. The daily intake should be divided into three meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner. But you need to take into account that the fruits are invigorating; eating them in the evening is not recommended.
Decoctions and teas based on goji should also be divided into 3 parts and drunk throughout the day, taking equal breaks.
Release forms
The herbal supplement is available in different versions:
- Dried goji berries. Natural dried fruits, taken independently or added to other dishes. Vitamin drinks and compotes can be prepared from whole fruits.
- Powder. Crushed dried berries for oral administration. The product is added to porridges and salads, and used to brew healthy teas. The downside is the fine fraction of the powder, which is why it can irritate the mucous membranes of the pharynx and respiratory tract.
- Berry juice. Concentrated liquid extract from the fruits of wolfberry is available in large volume bottles. The solution is taken in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach, dosing it in measuring spoons. The product contains sugar, which gives goji berry juice a pleasant taste. Minus - the juice can cause dyspeptic disorders.
- Extract in capsules. The best release form, which contains a standardized berry extract. Thanks to the protective shell, the capsules do not irritate the stomach and do not cause side effects.
Goji berry diet
The fruits of Chinese barberry are used in many diets as they speed up metabolism. Below are recommendations for following the rules of diet.
Diet of Elena Malysheva
The main idea, like other diets, is to reduce the daily calorie intake. Goji berries are used here as a means to speed up metabolism, start the fat burning process, and also improve overall health. The advantage of Malysheva’s diet is that it is compiled according to all the rules of dietetics. The diet is modest but nutritious.
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Ducan's diet
The peculiarity of the Dukan diet is that it consists of several stages, in each of which certain foods are consumed. Goji berries are needed only to replenish the lack of nutrients.
- First, you should drink a decoction or tea prepared from the berries;
- then eat goji fruits on carbohydrate days;
- Further, baking and other desserts with berries are allowed.
But the diet should be clarified with a nutritionist.
Contraindications
The main limitation to taking the supplement is an allergic reaction to wolfberry fruits or to all red fruits and vegetables. Fresh goji berries have a mild laxative effect, so they should not be taken by patients with gastritis or gastric ulcers in the acute stage.
Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication to taking the drug; the issue is resolved individually after consultation with a gynecologist. Berries are also not given to children under 3 years of age.
Women during breastfeeding are strictly prohibited from eating fruits, as they change the taste of milk and can provoke allergies in the child.
Recipes for weight loss
Goji berries are used in any diet. They can be added to a smoothie or porridge, mixed with yogurt, consumed in pure form, or made into tea. Let's look at popular recipes with goji berries - dishes that are recommended to be prepared for weight loss.
Diet porridge
Ingredients:
- low-fat milk;
- cereals;
- honey;
- Goji berries.
Cooking method:
First, soak the oatmeal in water for 20 minutes. Then you need to finish cooking them, add a little milk, goji berries and a spoonful of honey, then mix.
Milkshake
List of ingredients:
- low-fat milk;
- Goji berries.
Cooking method:
Mix 3 tbsp. l. fruits with 0.5 liters of milk. Close the container and place in the refrigerator. The cocktail should be consumed after 1 day. You can also add other fruits to it. The cocktail helps not only to lose weight, but also to recover after intense workouts.
Tea
Cooking method:
Pour 1 tbsp. l. dried goji berries with boiling water (0.5 l) and leave for 30 minutes. You can add honey, lemon or lime to the finished drink.
Sunfood, Sun Dried Goji Berries, 8 oz (227 g)
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Smoothie
Ingredients:
- any low-calorie fruits: apples, oranges, etc.;
- low-fat kefir (or 1%);
- Goji berries.
Cooking method:
Peel and pit the fruit and puree in a blender. Add kefir and goji fruits to the puree and mix. The latter can be chopped together with fruit or used whole. The cocktail is recommended to be consumed in the morning. It gives energy and vigor.
Tincture
List of ingredients:
- alcohol;
- Goji berries.
Wash the fruits and pour alcohol (1 l). Place the container in a dark place for 7 days. The mixture can be consumed after breakfast, diluted with plain water or juices.
Growing at home
It is better to buy ready-made goji berry seeds. Planting is recommended in April. Plant seeds in soil (peat, coarse river sand and a mixture of garden soil in a ratio of 1:1:1) to a depth of 2 mm and lightly sprinkle with soil. You need to keep an eye on the berries: the recommended temperature is 25 °C, the seeds should be protected from direct sunlight and temperature changes, and watered generously.
After 2 weeks you will have sunrises, now you can transplant them into pots to a depth of 7 cm so that the root system can develop. During the first year, goji berries should be grown at home, and then they can be transplanted into open soil. You can enjoy goji berries directly after 3 years.
Side effects and allergies
Goji berries for weight loss should be consumed correctly. It is especially not recommended to eat them for people prone to allergies. There is one simple way to check - wait 2 days after the first dose. If the skin does not turn red, there is no runny nose or other signs of an allergic reaction, the berries can be eaten.
You should not consume goji fruits after symptoms of individual intolerance appear. Otherwise, you can provoke Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock.
Side effects may also occur due to exceeding the daily dosage. They manifest themselves with the following symptoms:
- insomnia;
- nausea and vomiting;
- digestive disorders;
- stomach ache.
To get rid of them, you should reduce the dosage. If side effects persist, you should completely stop eating berries.
Indications for use
Long-term and extensive research has not yet been conducted on the medicinal and preventive properties of goji berries.
However, practice shows that their use can be recommended for people with the following problems:
- anemia;
- reduced immunity;
- atherosclerosis;
- blurred vision;
- liver pathologies;
- kidney diseases;
- diabetes;
- diseases of the reproductive system in men, problems with potency;
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- frequent headaches, dizziness;
- hypertension;
- being in a constant state of stress;
- severe emotional, intellectual or physical stress;
- constipation
Some “experts” even recommend taking berries to people suffering from cancer in order to suppress the growth of tumors, as well as reduce negative side effects when undergoing treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, it is clear to any sane person that the listed diseases cannot be cured by taking goji berries. No official scientific research has been conducted on their effect on the body.
If any pathologies occur, you must consult a doctor, follow his recommendations and be treated with prescribed medications. Goji berries should be considered solely as a method of folk treatment, used as an addition to the main therapy.
