The Goji berry – also known as the Wolfberry – is the name of the fruit of two species native to Asia and Southeastern Europe. They grow on an evergreen shrub found in these temperate and subtropical regions. They belong to the Nightshade family, along with the potato, tomato, chili pepper and eggplant. The health benefits of the Goji berry have made it a staple of every health food shop.

The Goji berry is a bright orange-red berry of about 1-2 cm, and is commonly consumed dried, which makes it resembles a raisin. It has a slightly sour and sweet taste, and makes an excellent addition to smoothies along with sweeter fruits such as bananas or cherries. They can also be eaten raw or added to foods such as soup. Goji berry juice has also recently become popular in the health industry.

Goji berries have a long history of consumption for their unique health benefits, especially in Tibet, China and India, where they have been used for well over six thousand years.

Goji berries are rich in an antioxidant group called carotenoids, which help protect your eyes and prevent age-related vision loss.

Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates the use of Goji berries to treat kidney, liver and eye diseases. It is known as the ‘longevity fruit’, due to its polysaccharides and antioxidants which help fight free radicals. Free radicals are culprits in speeding up the ageing process, so it is no wonder that the berry is said to prolong youth!

Did you know about these health benefits of Goji berries?

•  Goji berries increase human growth hormone by stimulating the pituary gland. Human growth hormone is also known as the ‘youth hormone’ and it helps improve your sleep, healing processes, reduces body fat and gives you a more youthful appearance.

• Goji berries contain betaine and master molecule polysaccharides which help protect your DNA against damage and breakage. This is great news, as damaged DNA can lead to genetic mutation and cancer.

• Goji berries can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancer patients, meaning that lower doses of chemotherapy are needed to combat the disease. It has also been shown to decrease some of the worst side effects of chemotherapy.

• Goji berries increase your libido by increasing testosterone levels in the blood. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for sex drive in both men and women. Testosterone levels decrease with age, so one of the health benefits of Goji berries is that they help people maintain their libidos well into old age.