Goji berries (wolfberries)
About the ingredient goji berries (wolfberries). Including 3 recipes with goji berries (wolfberries).
Contents
What is goji berries (wolfberries)?
Goji berry or wolfberry is a native Chinese deciduous shrub with bright red berries. The dried berries can be used to make a medicinal tea.
Goji berry is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them.
Goji berries are used for diabetes, high blood pressure, poor circulation, fever, malaria, and cancer. It’s also used for erectile dysfunction (ED), dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus); and to reduce fever, sweating, irritability, thirst, nosebleeds, cough, and wheezing.
Some people use Goji as an eye tonic for blurred vision, for macular degeneration, and for other eye disorders. Goji is also used to strengthen muscles and bone, and as a blood, liver, and kidney tonic.
In foods, the berries are eaten raw or used in cooking.
The use of Goji was first described in the first century AD in Chinese literature. Traditionally, Goji has been used to promote longevity. Legend claims that one herbalist who used Goji in combination with other tonic herbs lived 252 years.
Safety
Goji berries are POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth. It can cause some side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
Special precautions & warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking Goji berry during pregnancy is LIKELY UNSAFE. It contains a chemical, betaine, which could cause miscarriage. Don’t use Goji berrry if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Low blood pressure (hypotension): Goji berry might lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is already low, taking Goji might make it drop too much.
High blood pressure (hypertension): Goji berry might lower blood pressure. It might cause blood pressure to drop too much if you are taking high blood pressure medications.
Diabetes: Goji berry root bark might lower blood sugar. It might cause blood sugar to drop too much if you are taking medications for diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar levels carefully.
For more clinical information see: Lycium: Medline Plus
| In Chinese: | 枸杞（枸杞子） | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | Les baies de Goji (Goji) | |
| en español: | bayas de goji (wolfberries) |
Recipes using goji berries (wolfberries)
There are 3 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Superfood Green Smoothie
This smoothie packs a real superfood punch with a combination of wolfberries, hemp seeds, chia seeds, maca and spirulina. Wolfberries, hemp seeds, chia seeds and spirulina are all complete proteins. In addition, chia seeds and hemp seeds are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Maca is a great hormone regulator and has traditionally been used to enhance fertility. Spirulina is one of nature's wonder foods and its GLA content (gamma linolenic acid, an important fatty acid) is second only to mother's milk.
Wolfberry & Walnut Brownies with Chocolate Drizzle (Dessert)
Wolfberries are some of the most nutritionally dense superfoods on earth and have been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. They contain all the essential amino acids, making them complete proteins. They also have very high concentrations of vitamin C and 21 trace minerals necessary for health.
