Medicinal Benefits of Goji Berry Juice
Goji berries are native to Asia and look like a cross between cranberries and raisins. Many health and medicinal benefits are attributed to goji berries and their juice, although not much scientific research has substantiated or refuted the claims. On the other hand, goji berries are excellent sources of certain nutrients, particularly ones that act as powerful antioxidants.
The goji berry, also called wolfberry or lychee, is a bright red fruit produced by the Lycium barbarum shrub. In Asian countries such as China and Mongolia, the berries are often dried along with root bark to make natural medicines, although the fruit can also be eaten fresh or pressed to make goji juice. Goji berries contain significant amounts of some B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, trace minerals, fiber, amino acids, unique polysaccharides and carotenoids, especially lutein and zeaxanthin. Goji berry juice is traditionally used to deter the effects of aging and prevent a variety of diseases, although most supportive research is based on animals or conducted in labs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently does not list goji products as GRAS -- generally recognized as safe.
The primary antioxidants in goji include vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin. Antioxidants are beneficial to the body because they destroy free radicals, which are by-products of certain biochemical reactions that are damaging to tissues, especially blood vessels and organs. The total antioxidant strength of food can be measured and assigned an ORAC score, which stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. ORAC scores for foods can vary a great deal depending on growing conditions, soil quality, ripeness and storage techniques. Claims have been made that goji berries are the most antioxidant fruit in the world, although according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, they are roughly equivalent to sweet cherries and a little less powerful than blueberries. More specifically, 100 grams of goji berries have a total ORAC value of about 3,300 and the USDA recommends ingesting the equivalent of between 3,000 and 5,000 units daily.
Potential Medicinal Benefits
The main medicinal compounds in goji berries that have been researched are the antioxidants and polysaccharides. Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant needed for repairing and maintaining collagen -- the elastic-like compound in skin and other connective tissues. It also boosts immunity by stimulating the production and action of specialized white blood cells. Furthermore, the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin protect blood vessels from damage -- especially the delicate arteries supplying the eyes -- and contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Various polysaccharides extracted from goji berries demonstrate anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-infertility, antioxidant and immune-boosting properties in the lab, although more human research is needed before specific health claims can be made. However, a study reported in a 2008 edition of the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" found that adults who consumed concentrated goji juice daily for 14 days reported increased feelings of general well-being and improved neurological and psychological performance and gastrointestinal function.
The medicinal value of goji juice is limited by the quality of fruit used and the processing techniques. For example, vitamin C and some carotenoids are sensitive to heat and are destroyed by pasteurization. For the most medicinal value, buy juice that’s standardized to specific concentrations, which should be displayed on the label. Quality goji berry juice is a healthy choice and on par with most other berries, but don’t depend on it to treat any diseases or symptoms. Furthermore, researchers don't know whether goji berry juice or extracts have the same health benefits as eating the berries fresh.
- Natural Standard: Goji Berry
- USDA: Database for the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods, Release 2
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: A randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi
- Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images